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Home Front: Culture Wars |
This Week in Books, June 11, 2017 |
2017-06-11 |
Mohammed and Charlemagne Henri Pirenne Dover Publications, 2001 Republication (unabridged) George Allen and Unwin, 1954 Before anyone gets super excited about the title, this book is an anthropological study about the effects of two major ethos coming into contact in the post-Roman Mediterranean culture. It is not about timely maneuvers outside of Tours, though the effects of conflict are noted. And Mr. Pirenne did not pen this book. He died before he was able to put his notes into publication form. A former associate of Mr. Pirenne and his son, Jacques Pirenne compiled his notes and did their best to write the book as they thought Mr. Pirenne would have written it. Preface, by Jacques Pirenne, Page 9: This was the crowning achievement of his last years of work. The problem of the end of Antiquity and the beginning of the Middle Ages had always preoccupied him. Before the War, in his lectures on the History of the Middle Ages, he drew attention to the profound traces which the institutions of the late Roman Empire had left upon those of the Frankish epoch. But is was during his captivity in Germany, when, as a prisoner in the camp of Holzminden, he organized, for the many Russian students who shared his fate, a course of lectures on the economic history of Europe, that the solution of this capital problem seems to have dawned upon him. And during his exile in the village of Kreuzburg, in Thuringia, while he was writing his History of Europe, he emphasized, for the first time, the close relation that existed between the conquests of Islam and the formation of the mediaeval Occident. I wish I had read this book long ago as it fills in a gap in history little addressed, and does so using empirical methods such as the change in cost of paper, oil, and other day to day items. Mr. Pirenne does get into the cultural differences between post Roman territories, Germanic traditions, and the introduction of Islam to the Mediterranean world. And he does so in an interesting and fluid way, a testament to the compilers, writers, and editors. The information is very engaging, and well proofed in the footnotes. Mr. Pirenne's topics cover such data systems as commerce and trade, culture and traditions, government and bureaucracy, and covers these topics pre and post major events, and does so with no this group is good, bad, or ugly. Chapter 11: The Economic and Social Situation After the Invasions and the Mediterranean Navigation - Conditions After the Invasions - Navigation, page 92-94 The fragility of papyrus in the northern climate explains why so little is left; but we must be under no illusion as to the quantity which was formerly employed. And the wealth of information which we possess concerning Gaul, thanks to Gregory of Tours, should not make us forget the fact that still more papyrus must have been used in Italy and Spain, and that this must have necessitated an exceptionally active import trade. There are other data points noted, such as prices for commodities and trade items in spices and camels, which suggests heavy trade and prosperity along the Mediterranean. Also interesting to me was the evolution of post-Roman Italy, and Mr. Pirenne does well explaining that process. The Carolingian Coup D'Etat and the Volte-Face of the Papacy, Page 224 The year 751 saw the alliance of the Carolingians with the Papacy. It was planned under Zacharias and completed under Stephen II. Before the situation could be completely reversed the last thread that connected the Pope with the Empire had to be broken, for so long as it existed the Papacy was force to remain, in defiance of its nature a Mediterranean power. It doubtless would have remained a Mediterranean power if Islam had not robbed it of Africa and Spain. But Germany, in the North, was now of greater significance. All said, this is not a beginners book. Readers are expected to have a working knowledge of regional cultures, trade centers and routes, language skills, and major players. In fact, a couple of maps would have gone a long way to making this transcript a bit more accessible. With the greatest library ever created accessible by phone or computer, the education requirements are not a make-or-break problem for the reader, and the research to figure what is meant by orcae or where the Suevi are located is educational in and of itself. Link is to Amazon. I have run out of sand to discuss emergency bags this time; and I would like to mention that a consistent weekly post is impossible for me at the moment, as I will for sure miss next week's post on account of a celebration (for a change). I may also branch out to other aspects of the Humanities from time to time, as well as cooking. |
Posted by:swksvolFF |
#2 I was a bit surprised by how well off post-Roman Europe was; especially Spain. Carthage was a major trade hub. The trade routes and practices excelled until Europe started losing access to Africa, especially Egypt with the wheat, oil, wine, paper. When trade within the Sardinic & Tyrrhenian Seas becomes dicey to non-muslims Gaul begins a great decline (Spain already captured at this point) and everyone starts looking north for resources. Looking at that, then looking into the future where demand would be even greater, it is easy to see how Venice with its exclusive trade rights in Africa became so wealthy so quickly. And look at orcae, which I take for plural orca, Latin for whale, which I take as a class of ship, such as clipper or cutter, sloop, etc. which would indicate a standardized ship construction, like saying I would like seven truck trailers of olive oil. There may be small volume differences among trailers, but I would have a good estimate of the volume. Great book - filled gaps and raised questions at the same time. |
Posted by: swksvolFF 2017-06-11 20:25 |
#1 Trade was critical for transitioning from the Dark Ages on, and the Hanseatic League, for example, was but one confederation formed for the purpose of trade and protecting trade. |
Posted by: badanov 2017-06-11 12:14 |