A history of England principally in the seventeenth century, Volume 1 (of 6)

"A History of England Principally in the Seventeenth Century, Volume 1" by Leopold von Ranke is a historical account written in the mid-19th century. The work aims to narrate England's history, particularly focusing on the pivotal events and transformations during the seventeenth century that were influential both domestically and in broader European contexts. At the start of this volume, the author presents a preface discussing the challenges of writing a comprehensive history of a foreign nation, emphasizing the need for accuracy, thorough research, and engaging narratives. Ranke outlines his intention to cover key historical periods, particularly the significant religious and political conflicts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. He reflects on England's unique position during these centuries as it balanced the retention of medieval institutions while navigating the religious transformations of the time. The opening serves to set the stage for a detailed exploration of England's historical evolution, the influence of pivotal characters, and the complex interplay of politics and religion. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Leopold von Ranke was a German historian and a founder of modern source-based history. He was able to implement the seminar teaching method in his classroom and focused on archival research and the analysis of historical documents. Building on the methods of the Göttingen school of history, he was the first to establish a historical seminar. Ranke set the standards for much of later historical writing, introducing such ideas as reliance on primary sources (empiricism), an emphasis on narrative history and especially international politics (Außenpolitik). He was ennobled in 1865, with the addition of a "von" to his name.