historyseekstoshowthepastasitessentiallyhappened.docVIP

‘History seeks to show the past as it essentially happened’ Leopold von Ranke 1795-1886 Enlightenment and History in Germany Specificity of German Aufkl?rung Religion continues to play an important role No challenges to political order 2. Restoration and History in Europe and Germany Questioning of `Enlightenment’/Aufkl?rung Romantisicm* `Discovery’ of nation as key force in history e.g. Johann G. Fichte, 1762-1814 Attempts to give history a more rigorous character – influence of state 3. The relationship between professional scholarship and nationalism Celebration of Middle Ages as high point of German past Monumenta Germaniae historica Revolution from above – 1810 foundation of Berlin University – aims to combine teaching and research – influence on Ranke of Barthold Georg Niebuhr 1776-1831 ; and the historian of Rome August B?ck 1785-1867 Ideologies underpinning history first half of 19C still engage with Enlightenment Enlightenment thought holds that historical development will lead to perpetual peace: a world confederation of republican governments. This belief gives way to nationalism Future no longer perceived in terms of peaceful coexistence between nations but marked by conflict in the form of war 4. Major influences according to Ranke specialist Georg Iggers Lutheran background Classical humanist education German Romanticism and idealistic philosophy dominated intellectual milieu Politics of the Restoration Philology Wilhelm von Humboldt university/educational reform - Alexander von Humboldt Two major influences on Ranke’s thinking at University of Berlin: a Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel 1770-1831 ; b German Historical School Historicism Historismus : aims to study all civilizations in terms of their own values; refuses to apply universal norms in assessment of historical situations 5. Ranke’s Conception of History a `The strict presentation of the facts, no matter how conditional and unattractive they might be is undoubte