The emulation of nations : William Robertson and the International Order
The following thesis is an attempt to explore the historian William Robertsonâs contribution to the history of political discourse on the international order. It presents Robertsonâs principle works of international history, <i>The History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V</i> and <i>The History of America </i>as interventions in the debate over Great Britainâs global policy in the aftermath of British victory in the Seven Yearsâ Way. Robertsonâs <i>oeuvre</i> is further explored as a pioneering synthesis of contemporary Scottish theory on the progress of society and the narrative conventions of civil history. It presents a series of contexts in relation to which Robertsonâs ambitious project may be situated, primarily the âreason of stateâ historiography of the late seventeenth century and its critics, as well as the international dimension of the historiography of David Hume. The text of <i>Charles V</i> specifically employed a narrative of the progress of society in Europe to contextualise the rise of a system of a European states system that structurally precluded the possibility of universal monarchy. <i>The History of America</i> situated a narrative of conquest and settlement alongside
Grundy, Geoffrey A.
The emulation of nations : William Robertson and the International Order. The following thesis is an attempt to explore the historian William Robertsonâs contribution to the history of political discourse on the international order. It presents Robertsonâs principle works of international history, <i>The History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V</i> and <i>The History of America </i>as interventions in the debate over Great Britainâs global policy in the aftermath of British victory in the Seven Yearsâ Way. Robertsonâs <i>oeuvre</i> is further explored as a pioneering synthesis of contemporary Scottish theory on the progress of society and the narrative conventions of civil history. It presents a series of contexts in relation to which Robertsonâs ambitious project may be situated, primarily the âreason of stateâ historiography of the late seventeenth century and its critics, as well as the international dimension of the historiography of David Hume. The text of <i>Charles V</i> specifically employed a narrative of the progress of society in Europe to contextualise the rise of a system of a European states system that structurally precluded the possibility of universal monarchy. <i>The History of America</i> situated a narrative of conquest and settlement alongside
emulation nation william robertson international order follow attempt_explore historian william_robertson history political_discourse international order present robertson principle work international history history reign emperor charles history america intervention debate great_britain global policy aftermath british victory years way robertson oeuvre explore pioneer synthesis contemporary scottish theory progress society narrative convention civil history present_series contexts relation robertson ambitious project may situate primarily reason state historiography critic well international_dimension historiography david_hume text charles specifically employ narrative progress society europe contextualise rise system european state system structurally possibility universal monarchy history america situate narrative conquest settlement alongside