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Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward
But in a broader perspective, much of Europe was under Roman control in the 100-375 AD period, with organized and centralized political controls. As the Roman Empire disintergrated, local strongmen set up small areas of control, in the abandoned areas of Europe.
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Broadly correct, but not totally true. For example northern Europe never was under roman control, eastern Europe was controlled by Rome or its descendant for a (much) longer time, etc
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One could say that there was then a frontier, as you could go into the forests, clear an area and it was your (that's assartage). But by 1000 AD, the easily usable land had been brought back into production, i.e. the "frontier" had closed. With the simultaneous rise of the stirrup, from then on it was a matter of who ran things from then on. At least that's what I picked up from my reading of history...
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Hmm - it depends. You might put colonization or conquering wars into the same category - after all it gave people the possibility to enter foreign lands and start new. After all northern America did have some inhabitants, they simply got killed.
Still I think I know what you mean - pioneers (historically) have not been that important in Europes newer history.