Du « modèle évolutif du régime domanial » aux « vertus du comparatisme ». Quelques considérations introductives

From the “ Evolutive Model of the Domanial Regime” to the “ Virtues of Comparatism”. Some Introductory Remarks. Aiming to complete the general introduction to the symposium, the author first underlines that the most important progress in the rural history of the Early Middle Age is the reduced dichotomy between the manorial model and the allodial model through the researches led in the spirit of dialog. He next indicates that Adriaan Verhulst’s paper in Spoleto, through the ways by which he traced the evolution of the early medieval economy, had already prepared the field for this effect. Then the author explains his experiences in comparative history as a Japanese historian, in order to fortify the comparative method underpinning the symposium. The article ends by stressing the necessity of considering the geographical framework of the comparison in the medieval rural history.