Henri Pirenne

Date of Birth: December 23, 1862

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: October 25, 1935

Biography

Henri Pirenne was a renowned Belgian historian, best known for his groundbreaking work on European history. Born in Verviers, Belgium, he developed an early interest in history and pursued his studies at the University of Liège, where he later became a professor. Pirenne’s work focused on the social and economic history of Europe, and he is most famous for the “Pirenne Thesis,” which argues that the Islamic conquests in the 7th century disrupted Mediterranean trade and led to the decline of the Roman Empire and the rise of medieval Europe. His extensive research and publications have had a lasting impact on the field of medieval history. Pirenne was also actively involved in the political and cultural life of Belgium. During World War I, he was imprisoned by the Germans for refusing to cooperate with the occupying forces, an experience that influenced his later work. After the war, he continued to teach and write until his death in 1935. Pirenne’s legacy lives on through his influential books and the many historians who have built upon his ideas.

5 Interesting Facts about Henri Pirenne

1. Henri Pirenne was imprisoned by the Germans during World War I from 1916 to 1918 for his refusal to collaborate with the occupying forces.

2. He is best known for the “Pirenne Thesis,” which posits that the Islamic conquests disrupted Mediterranean trade and led to the rise of medieval Europe.

3. Pirenne’s major works include “Medieval Cities: Their Origins and the Revival of Trade” and “Mohammed and Charlemagne.”

4. He served as a professor at the University of Ghent from 1886 until his retirement in 1930.

5. Pirenne was a member of the Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Henri Pirenne

1. “Without Islam, the Frankish Empire would probably never have existed, and Charlemagne, without Mahomet, would be inconceivable.”

2. “History is not a science; it is an art. In the hands of a good historian, it is a synthetic, creative art.”

3. “The essential causes of the greatness of a city are in the people who inhabit it.”

4. “The history of institutions is the history of human actions and reactions.”

5. “The formation of the Middle Ages was the result of a series of changes that took place between the 5th and the 9th centuries. It was a slow, continuous, and progressive transformation.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Henri Pirenne’s net worth is not well-documented. As a historian and academic in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, his wealth was likely modest and derived primarily from his salary as a professor and the sales of his books.

Children

Henri Pirenne had several children, among whom the most notable is his son, Jacques Pirenne, who also became a historian and continued his father’s scholarly legacy.