The Pirenne Thesis
It wasn’t long ago that I learned of what is commonly known as the Pirenne Thesis. It was proposed by an economic historian by the name of Henri Pirenne. Due to his economic approach he had a different take on the reasons for the fall of the Roman empire, as well as a different suggestion for the date of that event.
Though I’ve not read his book in which he expounds the theory in its fullest I have read a number of articles that dismiss it. There seems to be a great amount of work done to disprove the Pirenne thesis. Despite that it remains enticing to me nonetheless. It “feels” right, if such a thing can be said about historical analyses.
Its quaint little ideas such as these that remind me so wonderfully why I love history as much as I do.