In 1311, efforts to codify canon law were significant, particularly within the Catholic Church. This codification aimed to standardize legal practices and ecclesiastical governance across Europe. The establishment of a cohesive legal framework had profound implications for the church's authority and its relationship with society.

The codification of canon law influenced poets and writers to explore themes of morality, ethics, and the relationship between law and faith. This legal framework provided a backdrop for later literary works that grappled with the moral implications of law, as seen in the writings of poets like John Milton, who questioned authority and justice.