The Trés Longue Durée [The Very Long Duration]

• In Event: 41066 - Methods and Methodological Innovations in Comparative Historical Sociology

Abstract

The Annales School introduced the concept of longue durée to emphasize historical processes that unfold over extended periods, revealing structural dynamics invisible in shorter-term analyses. While studies such as Marc Bloch’s Feudal Society and Fernand Braudel’s The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II have demonstrated the power of this perspective, this paper asks: Have these investigations found the temporal limits of socio-historical analysis, or do key structural dynamics remain hidden beyond the reach of the longue durée? We introduce the concept of trés longue durée—the very long duration—arguing that a broader temporal framework is necessary to uncover the deep structural mechanisms driving historical change. This paper develops a theory of historical social structures that integrates two interrelated dynamics: (1) internal structural dynamics, which link a structure’s initial conditions to its final conditions, and (2) transitional dynamics, which connect the final conditions of one structure to the initial conditions of the next. To illustrate, we examine the Roman Empire’s reliance on slavery, which depended on a continuous influx of captives from territorial expansion. Applying the linear-square law, we show that Rome’s economic stability required expansion at an increasing rate. When Augustus halted expansion, the supply of slaves dwindled, leading to a decline in coercive exploitation and facilitating the transition from slavery to serfdom—a structural shift that laid the foundation for feudalism. While not detailed in this abstract, our framework employs Elementary Theory to formally model these transitions, providing testable hypotheses and strengthening historical explanations. This approach demonstrates the power of formal theory as a tool for socio-historical analysis.

Authors

• David Willer, University of South Carolina

• Pamela E. Emanuelson, North Dakota State University