Belgium and the First World War

Synopsis

The Two Books For Which Pirenne Is Best Known In The English-speaking World Are Also Post-war Publications, Medieval Cities And Mohammed And Charlemagne. The Theses Of Both Are Still Debated Today. Pirenne's Pioneering Work In Economic And Social History Inspired The Annalesschool In France, As Well As Two Generations Of British And American Scholars. On March 18, 1916, The Historian Was Arrested And Deported To Germany For Having Urged The Faculty At University Of Ghent To Close The Institution For The War's Duration. Despite International Protests, He Was Not Released Until After The Armistice. Pirenne Used His Time In Captivity To Learn Russian, Give Courses For His Fellow Prisoners, And Begin Work On His Magisterial History Of Europe, Which Grew Out Of His Prison-camp Lectures