In the previous blog, Henry Mead scoped out the nature and origins of ‘Historismus’ in the work of Leopold von Ranke. Today’s second part scopes out Ranke’s influence and his legacy in the subsequent crisis of the concept of historicism during the interwar period. Ranke’s Influence As discussed in the first part of this series,… Continue reading “Part Two: Historismus, Ranke’s Influence and its Ultimate Crisis”
The tradition of German historismus (often translated in English as historicism) was the leading method of historical study in Germany through the 19th and well into the 20th century. Its reputation for rigour made it attractive to historians across Europe, notably in Britain through the advocacy of Lord Acton, Regius Professor of Modern History at… Continue reading “Historismus. Part One: Historismus, Ranke and its Roots at the University of Berlin”