Explain Factors Contributing to Medieval Europe's Decline.

Several factors contributed to the decline of Medieval Europe, and the period's downturn can largely be attributed to the following:

1. Political Instability: Europe was politically fragmented with numerous small kingdoms and territories often engaged in conflicts. The lack of a central authority led to constant warfare and disputes.

2. Feudal System Issues: The feudal system that underpinned medieval society began to decline as serfs and peasants sought better living conditions and more rights, leading to social unrest.

3. Economic Hardship: Numerous wars, poor harvests, and the limitations of medieval agriculture led to economic struggles and famine. This was exacerbated by the growth of population which the food production could not sustain.

4. The Black Death: The plague that swept through Europe between 1347 and 1351 wiped out a significant portion of the population. This had a devastating impact on the workforce, economy, and social structures.

5. The Hundred Years’ War: The long series of conflicts between England and France from 1337 to 1453 drained resources, destabilized regions, and contributed to economic hardship.

6. Rise of Merchant Class: The rise of commerce and a merchant class challenged the feudal system and shifted the power dynamics within Europe.

7. Cultural and Intellectual Changes: The medieval period's decline also coincided with the Renaissance and the beginning of the Humanist movement, which questioned many of the traditional ideas of medieval society.

8. The Great Schism and Religious Decline: Conflicts within the Church, particularly the Great Schism (1378-1417), where multiple individuals claimed to be the true pope, undermined the authority and credibility of the Church.

9. Discovery of New Lands: As explorers discovered new trade routes and lands, the old power structures and economies based on feudal landholding were less relevant.

10. Technological Advancements: Innovations such as the printing press and advancements in weaponry and agriculture began to change society's structure and economies, rendering some of the medieval institutions obsolete.

All these factors contributed to the gradual decline of medieval societal structures, the transition to the early modern period, and the reshaping of European societies.