By the end of the 15th century. the network of settlements has thickened a bit, even despite significant damage during the Hussite Wars (lata 20.-40.) and the wars for the Czech throne between kings Jerzy of Podiebrady and Maciej Korwin. However, compared to other regions of Silesia, even as close as the Kamienna Góra Basin, The Karkonosze Mountains were actually outside the area of intense combat operations. Rather, the population was plagued by hunger and plagues.
About that, that it was fairly quiet here, is evidenced by the mention, that in 1432 r. A group of Hussites who came from Bohemia settled in Miszkowice.
From the second half of the 13th century. The Karkonosze Mountains were located within two estates: east of the Okraj Pass, the Cistercians from Krzeszów ruled, and to the west Joannites from Cieplice Śląskie, after which in 1381 r. one of the most powerful knights of the ducal court took over the goods – from Schaffgotsch, ancestor of the then highly branched and wealthy family of the Silesian aristocracy. At that time, he resided at the Chojnik castle, erected at the end of the 13th century. by the prince of Świdnica Bolek I of the Raw and rebuilt in 1353-1364 by prince Bolek II to a mighty stronghold. Kowary also belonged to von Schaffgotsch, at that time, already constituting a significant mining and metallurgical center.
And with Kowary, or rather, the next wave of colonization is associated with the mining industry there. New settlements and villages related to the search were established around the city, mining and processing of iron ores.
This was the case with the mentioned in 1395 r. Jarkowice and Klatka, or the aforementioned St. 1418 r. Podgorze, which later became the main mining area of Kowary.
This does not mean, of course, that only von Schaffgotschs colonized this area. W 1378 r. already existing villages were mentioned: Niedamirów and Opawa, which to 1399 r. were owned by von Seidlitz, a representative of another well-known Silesian knightly family, and then they became the property of the Krzeszów Cistercians, Whereas Szczepanów, mentioned in the same year, was a monastic village from the very beginning.
By the end of the 15th century. New villages were established at the foot of the main ridge of the Karkonosze Mountains: Krzaczyna (1427 r.), Cutting (1387 r.) and Szklarska Poręba Dolna (1366 r.). Krzaczyna was a small private property, its owners changed frequently, Whereas Przesieka and Szklarska Poręba were situated on the land of the Schaffgotsch family, although there are assumptions about the latter, that it could be founded by the Knights Hospitaller.
While the first villages had a typical character of agricultural settlements, the next ones, as a rule, emerged as more specialized. This mainly concerns the settlements in the Kamienna valley and its branches, so Piechowice and Szklarska Poręba, the creation of which was related to the glass industry. In the Cicha Dolina at the foot of Grzybowiec, it is said that at the end of the 13th century. existed (probably the oldest in Silesia) glassworks, the traces of which have been confirmed by field research conducted, among others, in 1894, 1957 and later, although on their basis the time of its creation cannot be strictly dated. However, the existence of the ironworks in the 14th century is undisputed., because it is confirmed by documents from that period. Also in Szklarska Poręba Dolna, probably in the mid-fourteenth century, a glassworks was established. It, in turn, is certified by a document from 1366 r. Glass making was also developing, maybe even more intense, on the Czech side. The steelworks in Vysoke nad Jizerou were already mentioned in 1377 r., and the next ones were built in the 15th and 16th centuries.: Rokytnice nad Jizerou (1562 r.), Ryżoviśte (about 1680 r.). The best glaziers also came from the Czech Republic, then operating with entire families in Silesia.
The first period of settlement of the Karkonosze Mountains lasted until the beginning of the 17th century., so until the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648).