Jean Gimpel

Jean Gimpel ( born October 10, 1918 in Paris, † June 16, 1996 in London) was a French historian, focusing on the study of the Middle Ages, and Essayist. His work deals mainly with techno-historical issues.

He was a specialist of the 13th century and the medieval history of technology. During the Second World War he was active in the French Resistance. After the war he worked in London. His book The cathedral builders was a successful book, which achieved a very high circulation. Later he compared similar developments in France 1050-1265 with those in the United States 1850-1953. He concluded a final period of decline, which threatens the Western civilization. His analysis was the focus of an international conference on the downfall of the West. He extended his warning in his latest book, The End of the Future. Ken Follett he inspired to the novel The Pillars of the Earth. ( Preface to the German Edition)

With Lynn White, he was founder of Villard de Honnecourt Society for interdisciplinary research into medieval science, technology and art ( " Avista " ) in Kalamazoo / Michigan. The work Dupe contributed to the rehabilitation of the Middle Ages.

He married in 1946 Catherine Breton Cara, with whom he had two sons and a daughter.

Works (selection)

• The Industrial Revolution of the Middle Ages. Zurich / Munich 1980
• The cathedral builders. Holm 1996
• The end of the future. Holm 1995