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5 years ago in Historiography , History Of Ideas By Fern G

Who are considered the founders of ancient and modern historiography, and what were their contributions?

In preparing a graduate seminar, I need to distill the essence of their legacy. It's about identifying the indispensable core ideas or methods they introduced that created a lasting framework, distinguishing their work from mere predecessors.

 

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By Pragya Chauhan Answered 1 year ago

For ancient historiography, the founder is unequivocally Herodotus. His non-negotiable contribution was establishing inquiry itself collecting sources, comparing accounts, and recording cultures, even if not always critically. For the modern academic discipline, it's Leopold von Ranke. His indispensable contribution was establishing the "scientific" method: the dogma of primary sources, rigorous external criticism, and the impartial, professional historian. While we've challenged Rankean objectivity, I've seen how his archival-based seminar model remains the foundational training structure for PhDs. He professionalized the role.

 

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