Leopold von Ranke notes :D (1 Viewer)

wrong_turn

the chosen one
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well i cant be bothered doing it as an attatchment. however i will give you some really important points about von Ranke which could make you stand out ( obviously after i type it in, it wont be ) but the type of history written by the historian is influenced by external influences as one should realise.

he was a son of a long line of attorneys, therefore his class was already predetermined, and it was expected that he should follow similar foosteps due to the order of class in the late 1700s, early 1800s. therefore his history is mainly political. political, since his sources were primarily official documents as he believed that they were of the utmost projection of objectivity.

another main point is that von ranke was never an accredited historian as he dropped out before he could be accredited. this was mainly due to the focus on traditional methods of being subjective and relating everything to godly causes. however, von ranke did begin the enlightenment phase. the romanitcs referred to the enlightenment historians as "cold" due to their lack of emotions when writing history.

a must to remember is the quote "wie es eigentlich gewen" which has several meanings. but mainly, it is known as "how things essentially happened."

you must remember that von ranke is not a enlightenment historian as many students seem to think. he is an empiricist historian. he writes his history in a narrative format in which it is fact after fact.

below are my notes on von ranke's history.

Germany at that time was not fertile soil for the growth of nationalism

Nationalism ‘only touched the top layers of society directly and resistance to attempts to put its tenets into practice often stiffened localism rather than promoted German national feeling. Therefore enlightenment was the predominant German national feeling.’ Therefore enlightenment was ‘the predominant cultural movement.’ And instead of nationalism spreading in the country, it went in reverse.

Goethe 1972”have we a fatherland? If we can find a place where we can rest with our possessions, a field to sustain us, a home to cover us, have wee not there a fatherland?” this quote summed up the notion of society at the time. Enlightenment in basic ‘was man as an individual, not as a member of a class or nationality.’ Nationalism therefore is less; however with the new attitude to focus on the society, it promoted nationalism
• ‘belief in man’s capacity to make his own future.’

German enlightenment remained essentially apolitical, concerned primarily with religion and philosophy.


The cause of the German enlightenment was English literature

Goethe’s early works were characterized by emotion, strength, and vitality but also by the lack of discipline of a sensuous and passionate man
• Opposite of dispassionate Ranke.

Political aspects of enlightenment ‘gave rise to a strong feeling f their separateness, their intrinsic value as a people, their unique importance.’

The romantics condemned the men of the enlightenment for their “cold” rationalism and their efforts to apply reforms without taking into consideration human emotions…’


The spirit of enlightenment filled people with the optimistic belief that if law within their own power to achieve happiness in accord with the laws of nature and human intellect.

Burckhardt was a student under von ranke

Von ranke as a contemporary focused on polticial facts.

‘accuracy is alwaus replced by greater accuraxy which profits by its predecessor.’

Zohn states that “scientific” “factual” history has run dry’ and excitable history is more appealing. (reference to burchardt)

Ranke ordered, and presented history as it was, which was ‘completed history’

In burchardt’s youth he studied histoy under ranke and droyson. He was ‘intoxicated’ by the new refreshing atmosphere that he counf among his german fellow students. Hes letters are filled with his enthusiasm’ according to zohn

Burchardt wrote, “entirely possessed by one thought: you are not worthy to tread this ground; you are in a holg land. The debt I owe to germany lies more heavily than ever on my soul.” “I have germany to thank for everything.” This ssense of national pride that could be affluenced by the major historians during this time; ranke uincluded. Ranke had him as a student and portrayed his view onf german history in a much more nationalistic manner which derived pride in everything that was german.
• Though after returning, after 20 yeas, the charm of germany had lost is touch and he could only see’ pwer politcs’ and ‘vulgar nationalism.’ Therefore in ranke’s writing as a historian, jis objectivity and aim to show germany with nationalism was succeddsul, yet some schools of thought argue that no person can be completely objective such as a post-modernism.



Father of the critical method in history

His contribution consisted in masterfully integrating the cticical use of documents with narrative history.

His writing was centered on political history and also ranke himself also introduced religious history

Enlightenment historians relied ‘heavily on literary scources’

Religious history was a construct of official documents of the state.

Was one of the fear who was theoretically in his writing during that time period.

Father of political science- herbet b adams.

‘extensivily and repeatedly translated into english’
“to hold strictly to the facts of history” herbet b adams.
His determination to reamin as objective as possible

he avoided questions of theory

“insisted upon entire objectivity in the treatment of the past” HE Barnes

‘Ranke let the facts speak for themselves’

“history is all the remains that have come down to us” FS turner on ranke

Subjectivity- theoretical assumptions.

Ranke had an emphasis application on critical method

“Wie es eightlien geweson” ranke
• Eightlien which was ambiguous in ranke’s trim period ould have meant “actually,” but also meant “characteristic, essential.” The latter is more frequently used by ranke.
• ‘It is not factuality, but the emphasis on the essential that makes an account historical.’

Ranke believed in the usual line of german thinkers at the time
i.e. historical and cultural sciences dealing with values, intentions, violations. But not abstract causal explanation.

This approach stressed that every society must be seen as a complex of values but that these values must be understood in their own terms rather than by reference to standards external to the society.

Ranke was a writer of narrative history

Ranke’s major influences on his intellectual formation:
• The Lutheran humanistic education he reiced as a youth
• The german idealistic philosophy, which dominated the intellectual atmosphere.
• The politics o restoration

Not Prussian by birth

Hlittle effect of enthusiasm for Prussian wars of liberation

Had almost no training as a historian, yet went to Leipzig for his foundations in history.

“memoirs, diaries, letters, reports from embassies and original narratives of eye-witnesses… was what he intended use.



well guys hope this helps you guys. if anyone wants the powerpoint as well or the speech which explains everything, just ask me to put it up or pm for it.

unless all of you really want it....:rolleyes: it lasts for about 30 mins :D
 

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