This reminded me of an interview with Umberto Eco: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/28/arts/international/umberto-eco-a-master-of-fiction-considers-historys-lies.

This reminded me of an interview with Umberto Eco: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/28/arts/international/umberto-eco-a-master-of-fiction-considers-historys-lies.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/28/arts/international/umberto... I am not a historian, but I've read a lot on history. My personal thesis is that, because of the social changes required for the transition from old economic systems (feudalism) into our current world, the old order had to be belittled. In the old order, most people had a place in the world (the land, the guild, the church, etc.). In the new order, you worked 16 hour shifts just so you could eat and you had no guarantees. You need a big ideological blow to your head to not want to go back to the old order. Hence the medieval bashing. Again, this is just a little thesis of mine. One day I'll find the time to read enough to give it some weight (or just disprove it).