Sunday, November 21, 2021

The Byzantine system refutes itself

Per Justinian's Flea, Kyle Harper was the last straw for some; I had a comment on Mordechai's rebuttal myself (going against Razib Khan no less). Now, it's being argued more-forcefully that, ouais; Yersinia est une peste. Elle toujours erait.

PierrePeter Sarris has the full argument, thankfully not paywalled.

Even in 2019 when I was taking Mordechai seriously I had to say his economic argument was an own-goal for him. Sarris brings Justinian's response: the chastening which has been sent by God’s goodness [should have made workers] better people [but instead] they have turned to avarice. The working class wish to live like the bourgeoisie. No, says the Emperor!

We must agree that Justinian's early-540s measures (including ecclestiastical) kept the rattletrap going for another few more generations. But they didn't make 'em love 'im, that's fer sartan shure.

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