his201 - lect 2 - week 6

Pirenne Thesis; The Mediterranean Sea and the Origins of Europe

Traditional historiography:

1. Einhard and Notker biographies - flattering

Einhard follows the hagriographical style of writing. This was an important time in historical biographies. A period of revival of historical writing. Brought on during a period of some stability, prosperity and some level of uniformity in Europe. These biographies are very praising of their subjects. These histories and their rhetorical styles generally depict the Carolingian Kings as saviours of Western Culture and as a continuation the Roman power. This is the first reason why the Charlemagne historiography is fraught with danger. We rely heavily on these sources, whatever biases and beliefs they carry we as a result carry them into our studies, because we rely on them so much.

2. Charlemagne's educational reforms
(Norman Cantor, The Civilisation of the Middle Ages, revised e., 194, p. 185)

It's even hard for Cantor to break away from this historiography - this Whiggish history.

Cantor talks about the ushering in of a new Western Europe. What has aided this type of historiography is that Charlemagne has sometimes taken on mythical aspects.

3. Charlemagne's myth (Song of Roland)

Henri Pirenne (1862-1935)

wrote during a period when it was trendy to write histories.

Pirenne's Thesis

Continuity of economics and trade after the fall of Rome

Mediterranean Sea still used for trade until the end of seventh century

Arab presence in the MEditerranean Sea

Trade and Feudalism

Less evidence of trade of gold,spices, papyrus and other materials.

Feudal society (Feud: one who holds lands of an overlord in exchange for service)

De-population of cities and the emergence of a strong rural life. The development of feudalism is the symptom of the Islamic dominance in the Mediterranean sea and consequently the isolation of Western Europe from ancient trading routes.