Giotto's fame leads to work for the…

Stefan Dushan begins his war of conquest against the Constantinople-based Greek empire in 1334.

After taking the border fortresses, Dushan penetrates deep into imperial territory to the gates of Salonika, although he does not achieve lasting success in subduing the cities.

He makes peace with Emperor Andronikos in August 1334, having extended the territories of his state close to what is today the northern border of Greece.

Andronikos is forced to recognize Serbian suzerainty over Macedonia in 1334.

Pope John XXII, a capable administrator who has asserted papal authority over imperial affairs throughout his pontificate, dies at about age eighty-nine on December 4, 1334.

Dushan secures his northern borders in 1335 against the Hungarians.

The Slovenian lands of Carinthia and …

…Carniola in 1335 fall into Habsburg hands.

Ibn Battuta continues his explorations of the Islamic world, journeying through North Africa, the Near and Middle East, East Africa, Central Asia, India, Southeast Asia, and possibly China.

Go-Daigo endeavors in the swell of victory to restore imperial authority and tenth-century Confucian practices.

This period of reform, known as the Kenmu Restoration (1333-36), aims at strengthening the position of the emperor and reasserting the primacy of the court nobles over the bushi.

The reality, however, is that the forces who had arisen against Kamakura had been set on defeating the Hōjō, not on supporting the emperor.

Ashikaga Takauji finally sides with the Northern Court in a civil war against the Southern Court represented by Go-Daigo. The long War Between the Courts lasts from 1336 to 1392.

Early in the conflict, Go-Daigo is driven from Kyoto, and the Northern Court contender is installed by Ashikaga, who becomes the new shogun.

The ensuing period of Ashikaga rule (1336-1573) is called Muromachi for the district in which its headquarters are in Kyoto after 1378.

What distinguishes the Ashikaga bakufu from that of Kamakura is that, whereas Kamakura had existed in equilibrium with the Kyoto court, Ashikaga takes over the remnants of the imperial government.

Nevertheless, the Ashikaga bakufu is not as strong as the Kamakura had been and is greatly preoccupied by the civil war.

Not until the rule of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (as third shogun, 1368-94, and chancellor, 1394-1408) does a semblance of order emerge.