Leopold von Ranke

"... After the attempt made by the Popes to renew their dominion over the world had been finally defeated, notwithstanding its partial success, their position and the character of the interest taken in their affairs underwent a general change..." --Leopold von Ranke, Volume III, Book VIII, 1836 History of the Popes: Their Church and State in three volumes, by German historian Leopold von Ranke, was first published in German in 1834-36, and translated into English by E. Fowler in 1901. Von Ranke described the papacy not only as a clerical institution, but also as a political power. In volume III (book VIII), von Ranke offers colorful profiles of many Popes, including Pope Leo X, Marcellus II, Pius IV, and Sixtus V. Although praised by many as a masterpiece, both Catholics and Protestants criticized this book as too biased. As was the case in his other books, von Ranke's writing was based on eye-witness accounts, in this instance the use of private papers in Rome and Venice.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1869.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1869.

"... Ranke has given us not only history, but literature, showing that the noble language which he wielded was adapted, not merely for setting forth the investigations of science and the speculations of philosophy, but also for clothing human thought and historical facts in garments of grace and beauty..." --William Clark, Special Introduction, 1901 History of the Popes: Their Church and State in three volumes, by German historian Leopold von Ranke, was first published in German in 1834-36, and translated into English by E. Fowler in 1901. Von Ranke described the papacy not only as a clerical institution, but also as a political power. In volume I (books I-IV), von Ranke recounts the history of the papacy from its inception to the sixteenth century. Although praised by many as a masterpiece, both Catholics and Protestants criticized this book as too biased. As was the case in his other books, von Ranke's writing was based on eye-witness accounts, in this instance the use of private papers in Rome and Venice.

"... The history of the renovated popedom would be but imperfectly understood, did we limit our attention to its centre only. Its essential importance is best perceived by observing its operations on the world in general..." --Leopold von Ranke, Volume II, Book V--Counter-Reformation, 1836 History of the Popes: Their Church and State in three volumes, by German historian Leopold von Ranke, was first published in German in 1834-36, and translated into English by E. Fowler in 1901. Von Ranke described the papacy not only as a clerical institution, but also as a political power. In volume II (books V-VII), von Ranke recounts the Counter-Reformation, the period of Catholic resurgence beginning in 1545 with the Council of Trent in response to the Protestant Reformation. Although praised by many as a masterpiece, both Catholics and Protestants criticized this book as too biased. As was the case in his other books, von Ranke's writing was based on eye-witness accounts, in this instance the use of private papers in Rome and Venice.

"... THERE was a time when the power, and, in a great measure, the civilization of Europe, seemed to havetheir chief seat in the South; a time when the Ottoman empire and the Spanish monarchy had grownup, face to face, to an overtopping greatness, dangerous to neighbouring and remote nations, and whenno literature in the world could compare with that of Italy..." --Leopold von Ranke, Preface, 1843 The Ottoman and Spanish Empires in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries by German historian Leopold von Ranke was first published in German in 1830, and translated into English in 1843. Von Ranke described the rivalry between the two leading powers in the Mediterranean, the Ottomans and the Spaniards. Just as in his other books, von Ranke's writing was based on eye-witness accounts, in this case the well-documented reporting of the Venetian ambassadors who had been emissaries to both empires.

"....von Ranke was probably the most important historian to shape the historical profession as it emerged in Europe and the United States in the late 19th century..." --Caroline Hoefferle in The Essential Historiography Reader, 2010The History of Servia and the Servian Revolution--With a Sketch of the Insurrection in Bosnia by German historian Leopold von Ranke was first published in German in 1829. To this English edition of 1853 is added The Slave Provinces of Turkey by the French author Cyprien Robert. This work was based on eye-witness accounts of the Serbian uprising (present-day Serbia was known as Servia prior to 1915) of 1804 against the Ottomans and was one of the first modern works on this Balkan nation. In addition, the earlier chapters are dedicated to the early rich history of the Serbs from the ninth century on to the sixteenth-century Ottoman conquest and their subsequent rule.