1|Page

Module – III
MODERN HISTORIOGRAPHY
Dr. Revathy. V.S

Renaissance Historiography

Modern historiography began with the emergence of the modern period in world
history, especially in the European history. The Renaissance and the Reformation initiated a
spirit of enquiry, critical approach and constructive reasoning in man. The intellectual life of
men underwent radical changes by the beginning of the 16th century. Though it naturally grew
out of the medieval antecedents, it acquired a new vigour and impetus. The impact of this
change was visible in every branch of knowledge, of course including history also. During this
period, history made itself free from the clutches of the theological and divine supremacy. It
was distinctively a revival of the interest in the antique culture and this revival indirectly
contributed for the development of modern outlook.

The Renaissance Historiography

Renaissance heralded a fundamental change in the thought process of western man. It

inspired man to know himself, his limitless capacities and to be his own master. This knew kind
of spirit and learning was known as ‘humanism’. This humanistic approach helped man to
discard the medieval period as ‘dark age’ and to consider himself as ‘modern’. The Renaissance
man attempted to reinstate the humanistic and rational approach of the ancient Greeco-Roman
classical thought. By the beginning of the 16t century, Renaissance had made its impact upon
the historical thinking in Europe. A new interest was shown to rejuvenate the Greeco-roman
classical writings.

The historical literature once again started placing man at its centre. For the Greeks,
man and his actions were controlled by his intellect, but for the Renaissance historians it was
controlled by passion and impulse. So Renaissance history became the history of human
passions. During this time the writers paid more attention to the style and quality of their works.
The historians of the Renaissance period were generally known as ‘humanist historians.’
Accurate scholarship was a failure of the Renaissance historians. Renaissance started in Italy
and the Renaissance history also found its beginning in Italy. The early historians studied the
achievements of the local princes. Then studied about the National history and classical history.
2|Page

they made attempts to search for the copies of the ancient Greek manuscripts and this effort
resulted in the availability of many rare works, hither to known.

Renaissance historians shattered the theological concept of periodization of history and

in its place introduced the new method of scientific periodization. So many ancient manuscripts
were recovered including the book ‘Germania’ of Tacitus. Apart from historians and scholars,
rich merchants in Florenze, Tuscany, Naples, etc. showed significant curiosity to preserve
ancient manuscripts. Florenze in Italy became the most important place where the Renaissance
historiography took its shape.

Flavio Biondo

Flavio Biondo, Renaissance historian, wrote the ‘History from the Decline of the
Roman Empire’ in the beginning of the 15th century. It covered the general history of Europe
from the fall of the Roman Empire to the beginning of the Renaissance period. He provided a
continuity to the historical process of European history for about ten centuries.

Leonardo Bruni

Bruni lived in the 15th century, Italy. He is considered as ‘the first modern historian’.
He inaugurated the humanist approach in history. His important book is ‘Twelve Books of
Florantine History’. He critically examined the sources.

Poggio Braciolini

Braciolini was a contemporary of Bruni. His important book is ‘Eight Books of

Florentine’, he critically analysed the political events in Florence, especially the internal
politics.

Flavious Blondus

Blondus utilised the available records of the ancient period for the reconstruction of the
history of Italy. ‘Rome Established’ and ‘Illustrated Italy’ were the two significant works of
Blondus.

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)

With Machiavelli, the historiography entered the modern period. He was a political
philosopher. His important books are Commentary on Livy’s ‘History of Rome’, it upholds the
3|Page

lost prestige of the ancient Roman historiography. His second work was the celebrated ‘Prince’
which in fact revolutionised the study of political science of all times.

Machiavelli’s first major historical work was the ‘History of Florence’ which covered
the political history of Italy from the fall of the Roman Empire to the contemporary period. His
‘Discourse’ was a book on philosophy both applicable to politics and history. for mixing fables
with history and ignoring the cultural aspects totally was the major criticism faced by
Machiavelli. His accounts were not accurate and had copied down several passages from the
works of the earlier historians. He believed that religious institutions should kept aloof from
the state and its institutions.

Francesco Guicciardini (1483-1540)

Francesco was a native historian of Florence and a contemporary of Machiavelli. His

important books were ‘History of Florence’ and ‘History of Italy’. Compared with
Machiavelli, he was better historian as he was more accurate in analysing the causes of the
events and acting impartial. He had critically examined the sources before accepting them as
the raw materials for the preparation of historical works. The ‘history of Italy’ is considered as
the first comprehensive historical work on Italy. It marked the beginning of the modern
analytical historiography. The Renaissance historiography based mainly on the humanist
approach gradually spread to the other European countries, outside Italy.

Jean Bodin (1530-1596)

He gave importance to geographical factors. Bodin’s important work was ‘Method for
the Easy Comprehension of History’. He believed that history should inculcate wisdom and
virtue in man by teaching him success of the good and the defeat of the wicked. Topography
and climate of each locality mould the character of the inhabitants of that locality.

Francis Bacon

He was fundamentally a scientist and philosopher and a historian. His outstanding book
is ‘History of the Reign of King Henry VII’. It is the impartial history of the early Tudors in
England.

Features of Renaissance Historiography

1. Humanist approach.
2. Development of nationalist and classical studies.
4|Page

3. Renaissance Historiography had a definite programme, the rediscovery of the past but
it could not develop any methods of principles.
4. Renaissance historiography removed theological dominance in history.
5. They declared that the historian’s duty was not to present the vents such, but to make
scientific enquiries into the causes of the events.
6. It produced logical works.