Quotes from Henri Pirenne

The cause of the break with the tradition of antiquity was the rapid and unexpected advance of Islam. The result of this advance was the final separation of East from West, and the end of the Mediterranean unity.

The Germanic invasions destroyed neither the Mediterranean unity of the ancient world, nor what may be regarded as the truly essential features of the Roman culture as it still existed in the 5th century, at a time when there was no longer an Emperor in the West.

The Germanic invasions in the West could not and did not in any way alter this state of affairs.

If I were an antiquarian, I would have eyes only for old stuff, but I am a historian. Therefore, I love life.

L'Islam a rompu l'unité méditerranéenne que les invasions germaniques avaient laissé subsister. C'est là le fait le plus essentiel qui se soit passé dans l'histoire européenne depuis les guerres puniques. C'est la fin de la tradition antique. C'est le commencement du Moyen Age, au moment même où l'Europe était en voie de se byzantiniser.

Pirenne was quite right that the ancient trading economy continued after the first invasions and the establishment of the mixed Romano-barbarian successor kingdoms. Some kind of connectivity by sea endured continuously, even if at very low levels (Horden and Purcell 2000).

The economic basis of the State did not correspond with the administrative character which Charlemagne had endeavoured to preserve. The economy of the State was based upon the great domain without commercial outlets. The landowners had no need of security, since they did not engage in commerce. Such a form of property is perfectly consistent with anarchy. Those who owned the soil had no need of the king.

If I were an antiquarian, I would have eyes only for old stuff, but I am a historian. Therefore, I love life.

Sedert den aanvang der onlusten, hadden den Liberalen, steeds den overwegenden rol blijven spelen, Het is dan ook niet te verwonderen dat den invloed der Parijs zo groot is op den Brusselschen Woeling.

Although no man can know everything, everyone ought nevertheless to work with a view of enriching the common treasury of knowledge, and in the degree to which he is conscious of this collaboration, the result of his effort will endure and be useful.

Nothing was further from the mind of the original middle classes than any conception of the rights of man and citizen. Personal liberty itself was not claimed as a natural right. It was sought only for the advantages it conferred. This is so true that at Arras, for example, merchants tried to have themselves classed as serfs of the monastery of St. Vast in order to enjoy the exemption from the market-tolls which had been accorded to the latter.