Euroculture: Historical and Religious Perspectives Assingment I
Henri Pirenne is a historian of Late Antiquity, and one of his most important works is, undoubtably, Mohammed and Charlemagne. Pirenne argues that the sea is an important factor in historical significance and development of cities and establishments, by pointing out that "Carthage, Alexandria, Naples, Antioch- were on or near the sea." but most importantly, the Roman civilization itself1. It is true that coasts and connections of Mediterrenean, of all seas, and with its unique ethnic …show more content…
This difference is well established; Arab conquest was so rapid that Pirenne compares it to times of massive conquest such as Atilla of Huns or Tamerlane2. On the other hand, Germanic invasion was so slow that it only took in small parts of Romania, as consolidation of centuries of effort, according to Pirenne. In manner of such a small time, Arabic peoples took control of large swathes of land, most of which belonged to the Empire. Of course, one has to add that, to be successful in Mediterrenean sea, a strong navy is a must. The author is convinced of the fact that Frankish kingdom and Charlemagne, was hardly dominant on the sea even with the Italian help against the strong navies of Musulmans, supported by the port Tunis and others they captured. While the sea was a battlefield of Christianity and newly-founded Islam, the latter was surprisingly adapt at the sea. The result of which is that Western Mediterranean became a Musulman Lake after the fall of Spain and African coast, which is coincident with the end of Late Antiquity3. Again, Pirenne thought that this divide which was a result of this seperation still continues to his
Henri Pirenne is a historian of Late Antiquity, and one of his most important works is, undoubtably, Mohammed and Charlemagne. Pirenne argues that the sea is an important factor in historical significance and development of cities and establishments, by pointing out that "Carthage, Alexandria, Naples, Antioch- were on or near the sea." but most importantly, the Roman civilization itself1. It is true that coasts and connections of Mediterrenean, of all seas, and with its unique ethnic …show more content…
This difference is well established; Arab conquest was so rapid that Pirenne compares it to times of massive conquest such as Atilla of Huns or Tamerlane2. On the other hand, Germanic invasion was so slow that it only took in small parts of Romania, as consolidation of centuries of effort, according to Pirenne. In manner of such a small time, Arabic peoples took control of large swathes of land, most of which belonged to the Empire. Of course, one has to add that, to be successful in Mediterrenean sea, a strong navy is a must. The author is convinced of the fact that Frankish kingdom and Charlemagne, was hardly dominant on the sea even with the Italian help against the strong navies of Musulmans, supported by the port Tunis and others they captured. While the sea was a battlefield of Christianity and newly-founded Islam, the latter was surprisingly adapt at the sea. The result of which is that Western Mediterranean became a Musulman Lake after the fall of Spain and African coast, which is coincident with the end of Late Antiquity3. Again, Pirenne thought that this divide which was a result of this seperation still continues to his