Leopold von Ranke (December 21st 1795 with Wiehe (Unstrut); † May 23rd 1886 with Berlin) is a German Historien .

Biography

Born in Saxony, Ranke is resulting from a family circle where the religion Lutheran plays a great part. In fact, being intended at the ecclesiastical state, it continues, with Leipzig, of the studies of Théologie and Philologie. Indifferent to the political events of the time (of which the wars of independence against the Napoleonean armies), it gives up its ministériat quickly, becomes professor of college, then in 1825, a station at the University of Berlin obtains.

The religious inspiration remains strong in its first work since in its eyes there exists a strong bond between God and the history of humanity, history which cannot thus be a chaotic succession of events without bonds between them. However, the posted goal of Ranke is to reach greatest possible historical objectivity. It is what it tries to show in its first publication in 1824, Geschichte DER romanischen und germanischen Völker 1494-1535 . The historian must present " what really occurred, wie be eigentlich gewesen" without judging these facts and while avoiding drawing some from the lesson for a hypothetical future.

Relatively moderate, Ranke which saw in Prussia, recognizes readily that it accepts the established social order, by principle and without states of heart. Director of an official review, it tries, after 1830, to remotely hold at the same time the liberals and the reactionaries. However, if it supports the policy of Frederic-Guillaume IV called on the throne of Prussia in 1840, it is disengaged little by little of the policy and is devoted in priority to its historical work.

Ranke gained the international repute since 1834 with its book Die römische Päpste, ihre Kirche und ihr Staat . This celebrity is accentuated with the publication of her work on the history of Germany which completely renews the ecclesiastical history of its time: Deutsche Geschichte im Zeithalter DER Reformation . The interest of Ranke exceeds the limits of its country. He works on the Great Britain and French history to the 16° and 17° centuries (1859-1868), not to paint complete historical pictures but to insist of them on the strength of the intellectual currents which developed there.

After 1871, the old historian deviates more and more from the policy, even if he is delighted by the German unit proclaimed after the victory over France. This selected loneliness enables him to be devoted to a Weltgeschichte where the national or European considerations have little place.

Posterity

Ranke remains still today, in spite of its posted modesty, a historian of first order which influenced in a fundamental way German and French historical science. Founder of the modern method of the university education, it had a very strong influence on Western historiography. One explains the other: its students at the University of Berlin, become themselves historians and teachers, diffused the ideas and the techniques of their Master. Ranke thus set up the system of the seminars, ancestor of directed work who was used as model at other European universities.

Works

• Geschichte DER romanischen und germanischen Völker von 1494 (a) 1514 (1824)

• Fürsten und Völker von South-Europa im sechzehnten und siebzehnten Jahrhundert
• History of the Serb revolution ( Die serbische Revolution ) (1828)
• Die römischen Päpste in den letzen vier Jahrhunderten , (1834-1836)
• Deutsche Geschichte im Zeitalter DER Reformation (1845-1847)
• Neun Bücher preussischer Geschichte (1847-1848)
• Französische Geschichte, vornehmlich im sechzehnten und siebzehnten Jahrhundert (1852-1861)
• Englische Geschichte, vornehmlich im sechzehnten und siebzehnten Jahrhundert (1859-1869)
• Die deutschen Mächte und der Fürstenbund (1871-1872)
• Ursprung und Beginn der Revolutionskriege 1791 und 1792 (1875)
• Hardenberg und die Geschichte of the preussischen Staates von 1793 (a) 1813 (1877)

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