1345: AN EPOCH OF UPHEAVAL AND CHANGE

The year 1345 dawned upon a world swept by profound change. A pall of the Black Death had already begun to creep, casting its terrible specter over Europe and beyond. The ravages caused by this vicious plague were only just {beginning{to be felt, leaving behind a trail of desolation. Yet, amidst the grief, seeds of renewal were being cultivated. Ne