How Well Does the Data Capture the Middle Ages Timeline?
Why should we study the Middle Ages? Because we seem to be approaching a Post-Capitalist World and one vision for that World is TechoFeudalism . The graphic above situates the Middle Ages ( MA 500-1500 ) in the sweep of Modern History (0-2000). The MA itself covers both the Dark Ages (500-1000, a deprecated term) and Feudalism (750-1500). Prior to the MA was the Roman Empire (0-500) and after was Capitalism (1500-2000). In terms of data from the World System Model (0-2000) , the Long Duree , the first component state variable ( W_Q =Overall Growth), the Takeoff didn't happen until the 19th Century , after British Capitalism . By comparison, the Middle Ages was basically a stagnate period. One question we might have about the data on which these conclusions are based (from the Maddison Project ) is how well the data track well-know events in the Timeline of the Middle Ages (see below). Notes Wallerstein, I. (2003) The Decline of American Power: the U.S....