Thus, he ascribed the process of political unification of the areas on opposite sides of the language frontier to their similar economic and social structure. Pirenne worked out a synthesis of social, economic, and political factors in the study of the history of his own country (1900–1932), especially of certain mass movements.
His interest in social and economic history was enhanced by postgraduate studies in Germany with Gustav Schmoller and through his acquaintance with Karl Lamprecht his contact with Arthur Giry in Paris in 1884–1885 strengthened his interest in urban history. He had personal experience with the Walloon woolen industry, since his father managed a factory in the town of Verviers, and he became aware of the acuteness of social distress in Belgian industry at the time that he completed his university studies. Several circumstances contributed to Pirenne’s interest in the social aspects of history. He taught medieval history and from 1893 on held the first chair of economic history in Belgium. There he taught until 1930 and between 19 acted as rector of the university. In 1885 he was appointed to a teaching position at that university but the following year moved to the University of Ghent. After studying under Godefroid Kurth and Paul Fredericq, he received his doctorate of letters at the University of Liege in 1883. Long appreciated as a vital resource for students of medieval history since its publication in 1925, Medieval Cities remains a classic in its field and essential reading for anyone with an interest in the history of Medieval Europe.Henri Pirenne (1863–1935) was a Belgian historian. He then proceeds to illustrate how the rejuvenation of trade in the 10th and 12th centuries led to the birth of new cities and centers of trade, and how the increasingly key role of the middle class led in due course to the development of modern economic systems and culture. He first examines the many interruptions of long-distance commerce and trade, showing how they greatly accelerated the decline of ancient European cities. Best known for his thesis that it was the Muslim invasions and the closing off of Mediterranean trade that brought about the "Dark Ages," Henri Pirenne extends his examination of the decline and revival of Europe in Medieval Cities.īest known for his thesis that it was not the invasion of Germanic tribes that brought about the so-called Dark Ages, but the Muslim invasions of the 7th century and the closing off of Mediterranean trade, Henri Pirenne extends his examination of the decline and revival of Europe in Medieval Cities.
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