François-louis Ganshof Article Index for
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François-louis Ganshof




Ganshof's work was primarily on Flanders in the Carolingian period. His best known book is ''Qu'est-ce que la féodalité?'' ( 1947 ). Here he defines Feudalism narrowly, in simple legal and military terms. Feudalism, in Ganshof's view, existed only within the nobility. This contrasts with the later ideas of Marc Bloch , where feudalism encompasses society as a whole, and those of Susan Reynolds , questioning the concept of feudalism in itself.

Though Ganshof's definition is not always accepted today, it should be noted that this book was not his most significant work. He contributed greatly to his field, mostly through articles. Among the few books he published were ''Les Destinées de l'Empire en occident de 395 à 888'' ( 1928 ) and ''Flandre sous les premiers comtes'' ( 1943 ).


REFERENCES

McKitterick, R. "Ganshof, F.L.", in Cannon, John (ed.) Blackwell Dictionary of Historians,(Blackwell, 1988).