What if 300 years of history never happened?

The Carolingian Empire was a vast and powerful empire that dominated Western Europe from the late 8th century to the late 10th century. It was founded by Charlemagne, who was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD. The Carolingian Empire played a major role in the development of Western Europe, and its legacy can still be seen today.

But what if the Carolingian Empire never existed? What if Charlemagne was a fictional character, and the entire history of the Carolingians was invented? This is the premise of the Phantom Time Hypothesis, a fringe theory that has been gaining popularity in recent years.

The Phantom Time Hypothesis was first proposed by a German historian named Heribert Illig in the early 1990s. Illig was interested in the Early Middle Ages, but he was also critical of mainstream historical scholarship. He believed that historians were too willing to accept traditional accounts of the past, even when there was evidence to suggest that these accounts were inaccurate.

Illig came up with the Phantom Time Hypothesis to explain a number of inconsistencies that he found in the historical record of the Early Middle Ages. He argued that these inconsistencies could only be explained by the fact that the entire period of history had been invented.

Most historians reject the Phantom Time Hypothesis. They argue that Illig’s evidence is selective and that his interpretations of the historical record are forced. However, the PTH remains popular among some conspiracy theorists, who are attracted to the idea that a hidden history has been concealed from us by the authorities.

Whether or not the Phantom Time Hypothesis is credible, it is an interesting thought experiment. It forces us to question our understanding of the past, and to consider what the world might be like if history had taken a different course.

If the Phantom Time Hypothesis is true, it would have a profound impact on our understanding of European history. It would mean that many of the events and figures that we think of as central to the Early Middle Ages, such as the rise of Christianity, the development of feudalism, and the Viking invasions, never happened.