Final answer:
The Late Middle Ages was characterized by the Great Famine and the Black Death, leading to population decline and political instability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Late Middle Ages was a difficult time, marred by famine, death, disease, and war. The period from approximately the ninth to the fifteenth century in Europe saw external warfare over trade, the decline of chiefdoms, and the rise of new states. This era was notably impacted by the loss of agricultural productivity leading to the Great Famine of 1315–1317, which was a consequence of the Little Ice Age. Additionally, widespread diseases such as the bubonic plague, known as the Black Death, substantially reduced the population. These calamities not only resulted in the loss of lives but also engendered widespread political and economic instability, questioning the leadership of church officials and monarchs.