Change and continuity in English historical thought, c. 1590-1640
This is a survey and analysis of the writings of English historians in the half-century before 1640. It is based on manuscript as well as printed sources; an attempt is made throughout to connect English historiography with contemporary European works. The central argument is that while there was no radical break with medieval and Tudor historical thought, the meaning of the word 'history' had expanded by 1640 to include antiquarian and philological research, previously considered related and useful disciplines, but not regarded as 'history'. Attention is also drawn to the conspicuous rarity of historical debate in this period, to the problem of historical scepticism and to the historians' deterministic and teleological views of the past. The introduction briefly examines the words 'history' and 'historiography' and their Renaissance and modern meanings. Chapter I surveys the theoretical assumptions about history common in the period, of which Sir Walter Ralegh was a typical exponent. Certain Catholic authors dissented from the secular and sacred historical traditions accepted by most English protestants. Chapter II examines the theme of 'union' in early Jacobean historiography and offers detailed sections
Woolf, Daniel R.
Historiography ; History ; Intellectual life ; England ; 16th century ; 17th century
Change and continuity in English historical thought, c. 1590-1640. This is a survey and analysis of the writings of English historians in the half-century before 1640. It is based on manuscript as well as printed sources; an attempt is made throughout to connect English historiography with contemporary European works. The central argument is that while there was no radical break with medieval and Tudor historical thought, the meaning of the word 'history' had expanded by 1640 to include antiquarian and philological research, previously considered related and useful disciplines, but not regarded as 'history'. Attention is also drawn to the conspicuous rarity of historical debate in this period, to the problem of historical scepticism and to the historians' deterministic and teleological views of the past. The introduction briefly examines the words 'history' and 'historiography' and their Renaissance and modern meanings. Chapter I surveys the theoretical assumptions about history common in the period, of which Sir Walter Ralegh was a typical exponent. Certain Catholic authors dissented from the secular and sacred historical traditions accepted by most English protestants. Chapter II examines the theme of 'union' in early Jacobean historiography and offers detailed sections
change_continuity english historical thought survey analysis writing english historian half century base_manuscript well printed source attempt_make throughout connect english historiography contemporary european work central_argument radical break medieval tudor historical thought mean word history expanded include antiquarian philological previously consider related useful discipline regard history attention also_draw conspicuous rarity historical_debate period problem historical scepticism historian deterministic teleological view past introduction briefly examines word history historiography renaissance modern meaning survey theoretical_assumption history common period sir typical exponent certain catholic author dissent secular sacred historical tradition accept english protestant examine theme union early jacobean historiography offer_detail section