Medieval Cities : Their Origins and the Revival of Trade
by Henri Pirenne
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Nearly a century after it was first published in 1925, Medieval Cities remains one of the most provocative works of medieval history ever written. This book argues that it was not the invasion of the Germanic tribes that destroyed the civilization of antiquity, but rather the closing of Mediterranean trade by Arab conquest in the seventh century.Tags
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This history book is based on lectures of the famed historian Henri Pirenne, delivered in the United States in 1922. and first published in 1925. It is excellent, full of great ideas and very well written. I had to remind myself that his ideas are theories based on information available nearly one hundred years ago. Nevertheless he presents a very erudite and convincing arguement for his hypotheses.
The three important points he discusses (skip if you don't want a summary of the theses):
1. He argued that the Middle Ages did not emerge in Europe with the fall of Rome. Rather, it emerged after the Muslim expansion of the 7th-8th century - dislocating Europe from Mediterranean trade. The entire European society lost connectiion with Rome show more and Byzantium - instead developing its own unique culture. Hence, the medieval period is born, because the sea routes and trade of the Mediterranean had become `a Muslim lake on which the Christians could not float a board'. The Dark Ages fell over central Europe from about 500 to about 900, with life descending into utter subsistence.
2. Redevelopment of trade occurred in central Europe with the development of two foci of trade – Venice and Scandinavia - two areas that had access and connections to the East.
Venice was never culturally a part of "Europe" except for geographic location. Throughout the Dark Ages it was associated with the Byzantine Empire in Constantinople (Istanbul), and continued this association with the eastern Empire via the sea. Scandinavian adventurers also established sea trade and overland trading with the East and Muslims.
3. As larger cities formed in the 11th Century, it allowed for the formation of a merchant/middle class, and development of the class system - a structural characteristic of the city.
There are lots of interesting details around these ideas. One of the most interesting is the pivotal role of Venice as a 'Muslim' city in that time. I feel that I need to read more about the history of Venice - it sounds so fascinating.
More recent research and archeological findigns have refuted some of Pirenne's fundamental arguments and theses - his evidential sources draw mostly upon primary written records and numismatics. Later in this field shows a great deal of urban continuity between the late Roman and early medieval period.
In addition, his basic thesis on the importance of international trade for city-building has not held up. Regional trade markets, along the Rhine, in southern England, etc., have shown to provide ample foundation for numerous medieval cultures. (See Norman Cantor's Inventing the Middle Ages: The lives, work and ideals of the Great Medievalists of the Twentieth Century (NY: Morrow, 1991))
If you are a Medieval history buff, and you would like a beautifully written, brilliantly conceived (some as a political prisoner in WW1), precise of theorized Medieval City development, albeit written in 1922, this book is for you. show less
The three important points he discusses (skip if you don't want a summary of the theses):
1. He argued that the Middle Ages did not emerge in Europe with the fall of Rome. Rather, it emerged after the Muslim expansion of the 7th-8th century - dislocating Europe from Mediterranean trade. The entire European society lost connectiion with Rome show more and Byzantium - instead developing its own unique culture. Hence, the medieval period is born, because the sea routes and trade of the Mediterranean had become `a Muslim lake on which the Christians could not float a board'. The Dark Ages fell over central Europe from about 500 to about 900, with life descending into utter subsistence.
2. Redevelopment of trade occurred in central Europe with the development of two foci of trade – Venice and Scandinavia - two areas that had access and connections to the East.
Venice was never culturally a part of "Europe" except for geographic location. Throughout the Dark Ages it was associated with the Byzantine Empire in Constantinople (Istanbul), and continued this association with the eastern Empire via the sea. Scandinavian adventurers also established sea trade and overland trading with the East and Muslims.
3. As larger cities formed in the 11th Century, it allowed for the formation of a merchant/middle class, and development of the class system - a structural characteristic of the city.
There are lots of interesting details around these ideas. One of the most interesting is the pivotal role of Venice as a 'Muslim' city in that time. I feel that I need to read more about the history of Venice - it sounds so fascinating.
More recent research and archeological findigns have refuted some of Pirenne's fundamental arguments and theses - his evidential sources draw mostly upon primary written records and numismatics. Later in this field shows a great deal of urban continuity between the late Roman and early medieval period.
In addition, his basic thesis on the importance of international trade for city-building has not held up. Regional trade markets, along the Rhine, in southern England, etc., have shown to provide ample foundation for numerous medieval cultures. (See Norman Cantor's Inventing the Middle Ages: The lives, work and ideals of the Great Medievalists of the Twentieth Century (NY: Morrow, 1991))
If you are a Medieval history buff, and you would like a beautifully written, brilliantly conceived (some as a political prisoner in WW1), precise of theorized Medieval City development, albeit written in 1922, this book is for you. show less
Really enjoyed. Great background on early European history. Very easy to read, flowed beautifully.
MEDIEVAL CITIES: Their Origins and the Revival of Trade, by Henri Pirenne and translated by Frank D. Halsey, is probably the toughest 167 page book I’ve ever tried to read. This classic of Medieval history grew out of lectures that Mr. Pirenne gave in the United States in 1922.
It would help the reader if they are already familiar with the some of the history between 800-1200, as the people and places mentioned are not elaborated on. If you can’t find Flanders on a map, and you don’t have a clue about the Merovingian monarchy, its best you read the book along side your computer (logged on to Wikipedia).
Mr. Pirenne's theories of the beginning of Medieval cities can be summed up even briefer than this slim title, but I won’t give show more it away. He was writing at a time when language was quainter, wordier, and he often throws in Latin words (of which I love to try to figure out, but my intention on reading the book was to learn history, not Latin). I learned a bit, but I really struggled with the verbosity.
If you’re interested in Medieval history, this is certainly something worth reading among other titles. The struggle is only 167 pages long! show less
It would help the reader if they are already familiar with the some of the history between 800-1200, as the people and places mentioned are not elaborated on. If you can’t find Flanders on a map, and you don’t have a clue about the Merovingian monarchy, its best you read the book along side your computer (logged on to Wikipedia).
Mr. Pirenne's theories of the beginning of Medieval cities can be summed up even briefer than this slim title, but I won’t give show more it away. He was writing at a time when language was quainter, wordier, and he often throws in Latin words (of which I love to try to figure out, but my intention on reading the book was to learn history, not Latin). I learned a bit, but I really struggled with the verbosity.
If you’re interested in Medieval history, this is certainly something worth reading among other titles. The struggle is only 167 pages long! show less
Desde luego que ha pasado el tiempo por este libro, publicado en 1939 pero basado en investigaciones bastante anteriores. Pero, cuando uno es un auténtico experto en lo suyo, eso se nota. Pirenne sintetiza perfectamente la historia no solo de las ciudades sino de toda Europa en los primeros diez u once siglos de nuestra era (el resto de lo que llamamos "Edad Media" no parece interesarle) y sabe ver en la larga duración y en los rasgos generales, incluso aunque hoy no estemos de acuerdo con él. Así, es hijo de su tiempo al ignorar las zonas eslavas, la Península Ibérica, el sur de Italia y, en gran medida, los países escandinavos, de manera que nos queda una "Europa" demasiado reducida. También a veces saca conclusiones generales show more precipitadas de casos demasiado constreñidos en el espacio o el tiempo. Pero sabe ver la pervivencia de lo romano en los estados "bárbaros", y el papel esencial del Mediterráneo, que implica que la auténtica crisis medieval llega con la aparición de Mahoma, que coincide con Carlomagno (no en vano dedicó a estos dos personajes su obra más conocida). Estas grandes intuiciones, producto no de la inspiración sino del conocimiento profundo y el trabajo arduo, compensan con creces el polvo que el tiempo haya podido echar sobre esta obra, y hacen de su lectura un auténtico placer para cualquier aficionado de la historia europea. show less
Jul 30, 2017Spanish
Livro muito interessante. Liga o desenvolvimento da cidade ao da burguesia, pois se cidade = burgo, logo citadino=burguês. Começa por defender que o fim da cidade urbana do Império Romano se deveu ao fim das rotas comerciais que se faziam pelo Mediterrâneo, depois que os Árabes as fecharam quando dominaram as margens desse mar. Este declínio teve o seu ponto mais profundo no tempo de Carlos Magno e no século seguinte (IX) - outra das teorias do autor expressa noutro livor, Maomé tornou possível a existência de Carlos Magno. Depois, a falta de escrúpulos religiosos dos venezianos, levou os italianos as restaurarem as rotas mediterrânicas. No norte da Europa fazia-se o mesmo em torno do mar Báltico. Da junção destes dois show more focos de comércio resultaram as feira de Champagne, que foram o terceiro foco de comércio e de desenvolvimento. Faz também um paralelismo com a perda da autoridade do poder real a favor dos senhores feudais com o declínio do comércio. Quando este ressurgiu, a burguesia levou a um aumento da autoridade real, por ter tirado à nobreza a sua preponderância económica (pg 145). Pena que a obra não esteja melhor estruturada. show less
Mar 28, 2021Portuguese (Portugal)
Aunque el transcurso de los años haya modificado parcialmente algunas de sus conclusiones, las investigaciones de Henri Pirenne (1862-1935) sobre la Edad Media europea continúan siendo punto de referencia indispensable para los historiadores actuales. En "Las ciudades de la Edad Media" Pirenne demuestra que fue la expansión musulmana -que cerró el Mediterráneo al tráfico durante el siglo VIII-, y no las invasiones germánicas, lo que dislocó la unidad económica creada por el imperio romano, dando origen al periodo de decadencia mercantil que tan graves consecuencias tendría para la vida urbana. Después de tocar fondo a finales del siglo ix, las rutas comerciales fueron revitalizándose con nuevas corrientes de civilización show more que se condensaron en los núcleos urbanos supervivientes, marcando este renacimiento el comienzo de una nueva era: frente al clero y la nobleza, la burguesía inicia su ascenso, que culminará en la época contemporánea.
Aunque el transcurso de los años haya modificado parcialmente algunas de sus conclusiones, las investigaciones de Henri Pirenne (1862-1935) sobre la Edad Media europea continúan siendo punto de referencia indispensable para los historiadores actuales. En "Las ciudades de la Edad Media" Pirenne demuestra que fue la expansión musulmana -que cerró el Mediterráneo al tráfico durante el siglo VIII-, y no las invasiones germánicas, lo que dislocó la unidad económica creada por el imperio romano, dando origen al periodo de decadencia mercantil que tan graves consecuencias tendría para la vida urbana. Después de tocar fondo a finales del siglo IX, las rutas comerciales fueron revitalizándose con nuevas corrientes de civilización que se condensaron en los núcleos urbanos supervivientes, marcando este renacimiento el comienzo de una nueva era: frente al clero y la nobleza, la burguesía inicia su ascenso, que culminará en la época contemporánea. show less
Aunque el transcurso de los años haya modificado parcialmente algunas de sus conclusiones, las investigaciones de Henri Pirenne (1862-1935) sobre la Edad Media europea continúan siendo punto de referencia indispensable para los historiadores actuales. En "Las ciudades de la Edad Media" Pirenne demuestra que fue la expansión musulmana -que cerró el Mediterráneo al tráfico durante el siglo VIII-, y no las invasiones germánicas, lo que dislocó la unidad económica creada por el imperio romano, dando origen al periodo de decadencia mercantil que tan graves consecuencias tendría para la vida urbana. Después de tocar fondo a finales del siglo IX, las rutas comerciales fueron revitalizándose con nuevas corrientes de civilización que se condensaron en los núcleos urbanos supervivientes, marcando este renacimiento el comienzo de una nueva era: frente al clero y la nobleza, la burguesía inicia su ascenso, que culminará en la época contemporánea. show less
Feb 24, 2023Spanish
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Belgian-born historian Henry Pirenne spent most of his professional life as professor of history at the University of Ghent. During World War I, he was a leader of Belgian passive resistance and spent several years as a hostage of the Germans. As a historian Pirenne centered his attention on the urban development of the Low Countries during the show more medieval period. In Medieval Cities, published in 1925, he argues that medieval urban development grew out of regional fortresses. With the economic revival beginning in the tenth century, city and town life expanded. These communities created their own laws, allowing the development of individual freedoms. Pirenne is best remembered, however, for the "Pirenne thesis" about the foundations of European civilization, which he put forth in his 1937 work Mohammed and Charlemagne. The thesis is that the great event that pushed Europeans into the formation of their own civilization was not the collapse of the Roman Empire in the fifth century but the Islamic conquest of much of the Mediterranean. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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- Canonical title
- Medieval Cities : Their Origins and the Revival of Trade
- Original title
- Les Villes du Moyen Âge
- Original publication date
- 1952 (Revised English translation) (Revised English translation); 1927 (French language edition published in Brussels) (French language edition published in Brussels); 1925 (English translation) (English translation)
- First words
- The Roman Empire, at the end of the third century, had one outstanding general characteristic: it was an essentially Mediterranean commonwealth.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Both lay and mystic at the same time, the burghers of the Middle Ages were thus singularly well prepared for the role which they were to play in the two great future movements of ideas: the Renaissance, the child of the lay mind, and the Reformation, towards which religious mysticism was leading.
- Original language
- French
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- ISBNs
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