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Millennium:	2nd millennium
Centuries:	13th century – 14th century – 15th century
Decades:	1310s 1320s 1330s – 1340s – 1350s 1360s 1370s
Years:	1340 1341 1342 1343 1344 1345 1346 1347 1348 1349
Categories:	Births – Deaths – Architecture Establishments – Disestablishments

The 1340s decade ran from January 1, 1340, to December 31, 1349.

[edit] Events and trends

• The Black Death spreads across Europe. Before, it had 74 millions inhabitants of the some 442 in the whole world.
• Growth of power of the Byzantine aristocracy at expenses of the imperial power.
• 1340 – The Battle of Sluys is fought between the naval fleets of the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of France.
• 1342 – The English destroys Genoese galley squadron at Brest; widespread breakdown of order in southern France.
• 1342 – Clement VI succeeds Benedict XII as pope.
• 1344 – English Parliament voted a two-year subsidy for Edward III.
• 1346 – Edward III of England defeats Philip VI of France at Crecy. This battle was most noted for the slaughter of the French cavalry by English Longbowmen.

[edit] Births

• Geoffrey Chaucer 1343