Geoffrey Barraclough
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey Barraclough was a British historian, known as a medievalist
and historian of Germany.
He was educated at Bootham School
(1921–1924) in York and at Bradford Grammar School
(1924–1925). He read History at Oriel College, Oxford University in 1926-1929.
He was Professor of Medieval History, University of Liverpool
(1945–1956), Stevenson Research Professor, University of London
(1956–1962), University of California
(1965–1968) and Professor of History, Brandeis University
(1968–1970 and 1972–1981). He
was Chichele Professor of Modern History
, University of Oxford from 1970 to 1973.
Professor Barraclough began his career as a medievalist, but developed into a contemporary global historian. He was deeply concerned
about history's uses and relevance in the 20th century. It seemed to him that political debate and ultimately political decisions, suffered from a lack of historical insight. To rectify this problem Barraclough developed historiographical methods for comparative history.
By anchoring study of the past at the origins of a historical investigation, while simultaneously researching contempoary areas most
directly connected to that anchor research, his methods established comparisons between past and present. With this two-pronged research structure, Barraclough was able to organize his investigations by looking from the past forward and from the present backwards. He sought historical threads that connect past to present while also observing the discontinuities that separate past from present.
In his writing, Barraclough turned to geography, social and economic cycles, empires, trade and tribes as historical units he
felt most clearly connect past to present or combine to end that continuity. Using these methods allowed him to sketech an outline of world history, identifying its ups, downs and turning points.
His first two books on historiography, History in a Changing World and An Introduction to Contrmporary History are collections of essays. With scholarly authority, Barraclough served as editor of The Times Atlas of World History
, which continues to be revised.
and historian of Germany.
He was educated at Bootham School
Bootham School
Bootham School is an independent Quaker boarding school in the city of York in North Yorkshire, England. It was founded by the Religious Society of Friends in 1823. It is close to York Minster. The current headmaster is Jonathan Taylor. The school's motto Membra Sumus Corporis Magni means "We...
(1921–1924) in York and at Bradford Grammar School
Bradford Grammar School
Bradford Grammar School is a co-educational, independent school in Frizinghall, Bradford, West Yorkshire. Headmaster, Stephen Davidson is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference . The school was founded in 1548 and granted its Charter by King Charles II in 1662...
(1924–1925). He read History at Oriel College, Oxford University in 1926-1929.
He was Professor of Medieval History, University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
(1945–1956), Stevenson Research Professor, University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
(1956–1962), University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
(1965–1968) and Professor of History, Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
(1968–1970 and 1972–1981). He
was Chichele Professor of Modern History
Chichele Professor of Modern History
The Chichele Professorship of Modern History is one of the several Chichele Professorships established from the mid-19th century onwards at All Souls College, Oxford University. The position of Chichele Professor of Modern History was established in 1862...
, University of Oxford from 1970 to 1973.
Professor Barraclough began his career as a medievalist, but developed into a contemporary global historian. He was deeply concerned
about history's uses and relevance in the 20th century. It seemed to him that political debate and ultimately political decisions, suffered from a lack of historical insight. To rectify this problem Barraclough developed historiographical methods for comparative history.
By anchoring study of the past at the origins of a historical investigation, while simultaneously researching contempoary areas most
directly connected to that anchor research, his methods established comparisons between past and present. With this two-pronged research structure, Barraclough was able to organize his investigations by looking from the past forward and from the present backwards. He sought historical threads that connect past to present while also observing the discontinuities that separate past from present.
In his writing, Barraclough turned to geography, social and economic cycles, empires, trade and tribes as historical units he
felt most clearly connect past to present or combine to end that continuity. Using these methods allowed him to sketech an outline of world history, identifying its ups, downs and turning points.
His first two books on historiography, History in a Changing World and An Introduction to Contrmporary History are collections of essays. With scholarly authority, Barraclough served as editor of The Times Atlas of World History
The Times Atlas of World History
The Times Atlas of World History is a historical atlas first published by Times Books Limited, a branch of Collins Bartholomew, which is a subsidiary of HarperCollins, and which in the latest editions has changed names to become The Times Complete History of the World...
, which continues to be revised.
Works
- Public Notaries and the Papal Curia (1934)
- Papal Provisions: Aspects of Church History Constitutional, Legal and Administrative in the Later Middle Ages (1935)
- Factors in German History (1946)
- Origins of Modern Germany (1947)
- Mediaeval Germany 911 - 1250 (1948) essays by German historians, translator
- Crown, Community and Parliament in the Later Middle Ages: Studies in English Constitutional History by Gaillard T. Lapsley (1951) editor with Helen M. Cam
- History in a Changing World (1955)
- Survey of International Affairs, 1955-1956 (1960) with Rachel F. Wall
- Social Life in Early England (1960)
- Survey of International Affairs, 1956-1958 (1962)
- European Unity in Thought and Action (1963) Vogelenzang Lecture
- Survey of International Affairs, 1959-1960 (1964)
- An Introduction to Contemporary History (1964)
- The Mediaeval Empire - Idea and Reality (1964)
- The Historical Association, 1906-1966 (1967) Presidential Address
- The Medieval Papacy (1968)
- Eastern and Western Europe in the Middle Ages (1970)
- The Crucible of Europe: the Ninth and Tenth Centuries In European History (1976) later as The Crucible of the Middle Ages
- The Times Atlas of World HistoryThe Times Atlas of World HistoryThe Times Atlas of World History is a historical atlas first published by Times Books Limited, a branch of Collins Bartholomew, which is a subsidiary of HarperCollins, and which in the latest editions has changed names to become The Times Complete History of the World...
(1978) - Main Trends in History (1978)
- The Turning Points in World History (1979)
- The Christian World: A Social and Cultural History of Christianity (1981)
- The Times Concise Atlas of World History (1982)
- From Agadir to Armageddon: Anatomy of a Crisis (1982)
- Charters of the Anglo-Norman Earls of Chester, c.1071-1237 (1988)
- Atlas of World History (1989) with Norman StoneNorman StoneNorman Stone is a British academic, historian, author and is currently a Professor in the Department of International Relations at Bilkent University, Ankara...
, and later editions and atlases - The Times History of the World (2001) with Richard OveryRichard OveryRichard Overy is a British historian who has published extensively on the history of World War II and the Third Reich. In 2007 as The Times editor of Complete History of the World he chose the 50 key dates of world history....