A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century

Methodology and Conclusions

In her book «A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century», Barbara Tuchman employs detailed historiographical analysis to explore the social, economic, political, and cultural aspects of the 14th century in Europe. The author relies on an extensive array of sources, including chronicles, letters, documents of the time, and contemporary research, to recreate a detailed picture of daily life, major historical events such as the Black Death and the Hundred Years' War, and the impact of these events on various social strata. Tuchman aims to show how a series of unfortunate circumstances and crises in the 14th century profoundly influenced the course of European history and the formation of modern mentality. The book vividly demonstrates the connections between the past and present, prompting the reader to reflect on the cyclical nature of history and how historical events shape human society.