Book Review - Iggers

Georg G. Iggers, Historiography in the Twentieth Century: From Scientific Objectivity to Postmodern Challenge (Hanover, NH, 1997) In his work, Iggers, a German-American expert in historiography, offers a compelling exploration of the evolution of historical scholarship, highlighting the pivotal role of Leopold von Ranke in establishing a professional methodology for writing history. In Chapter 1, titled “Classical Historicism as a Model for Historical Scholarship,” Iggers reinforces the key themes introduced earlier, particularly the rise of the German university system, which sought to transform history into a rigorous science. Chapter 4, “American Tradition of Social History,” delves into the influence of limited government in both Britain and America, which fostered a broader understanding of social causality in historical narratives. Iggers also examines the emergence of quantitative analysis in the 1950s, which gained widespread adoption by the 1970s through the use of computer-aided statistics. This advancement opened the door to a wealth of previously underutilized documentation in historiography. From Thucydides’ efforts to distinguish fact from myth to the Rankian methodology of the 19th century, history has traditionally focused on significant events and influential figures, while also reflecting the cultural and political perspectives of the historian. Iggers’ insights provide a rich context for understanding the dynamic interplay between methodology and historical interpretation. While some authors, like David Hume and Edward Gibbon, skillfully blended thorough research with engaging storytelling to convey historical narratives to a wide audience, others strayed into the realm of fiction, neglecting the rigor of meticulous scholarship. To streamline and standardize the discipline of history in line with scientific principles, the German education model embraced the concept of Bildung—a comprehensive philosophical framework that integrated academic, physical, and spiritual development through self-cultivation. Alongside Bildung, the civil service began to recruit heavily from the university-educated middle class, elevating the role of historians in the effort to construct a coherent historical narrative. Leopold von Ranke’s work in establishing a rigorous historical methodology during the Prussian resurgence gained traction at the University of Berlin, prompting a shift in history education from top-down instruction to research-based learning. Ranke emphasized the necessity of using and analyzing only primary sources, in accordance with a “methodological appendix” that detailed the research process. This approach underscored the importance of archives containing a sufficient number of primary sources, laying the groundwork for a more disciplined and credible historical scholarship. Few private entities could offer such extensive archives, and Ranke’s influence within the university enabled a level of control and standardization by restricting access to historians who conformed to the Rankian system. Moreover, Ranke firmly rejected any judgment regarding the intuition or values of the subject, yet he had to navigate the political and cultural perspectives that historians sought to convey to their readers. Iggers concluded that this radical shift in historiography “replaced philosophy as the science that provided insights into the meaning of the human world” (p. 25). While Rankian historiography originated in Germany, French historians tended to write with a grand literary flair that captivated the public and garnered widespread support, though it often lacked the methodological rigor characteristic of their German counterparts. Many of these writers, including de Tocqueville, Taine, and Thiers, were politicians and social elites, more inclined to write for personal influence than for academic rigor. While German professionalization emphasized precision and accuracy in the pursuit of unbiased and impartial analysis, it did not necessarily enjoy widespread cultural support or interest. Iggers highlights the irony that this professionalization in historical writing allowed researchers to construct a pseudo-scientific framework to bolster ideological positions, ultimately undermining the very purpose of establishing a methodological approach to history (p. 28). As Rankian methodology gained traction globally, including in Britain and America, opposing forces emerged to challenge the increasing standardization of the discipline. Both America and Britain began to cultivate their own narratives of national history. Unconstrained by Europe’s rigid bureaucracy and nationalization, these countries approached historical events with a free-market perspective that emphasized a broader range of social forces. After 1870, America, in particular, embraced democracy and post-industrial modernization driven by immigration, while downplaying the struggle to achieve a unified national or thematic consensus. Unlike the rise of Marxist historiography in Europe, America viewed itself as classless, free, and unencumbered, propelled instead by social and economic forces. The nation’s economic and democratic history was further enriched by the advent of quantitative analysis, facilitated by computers. Previously inaccessible or underutilized information, such as historical tax archives and census data, became available to historical demographers, revealing new correlations among concepts like religion, ideas, and the frontier. While American historians drew on concepts from the social sciences, Rankian methodology, and economics, they expanded the historical discourse beyond a state-centered, nationalistic approach, exploring a wide spectrum of social factors. By considering diverse perspectives, they uncovered fresh ways to interpret the world—such as the roles of religion, ideas, and the frontier—leading to a remarkable resurgence in historical inquiry. This scientific rigor was perhaps the very standard Ranke himself would have aspired to achieve. It seems you haven't provided any text for me to edit. Please share the passage you'd like me to refine, and I'll be happy to assist!