Changing Methodologies in Historicism: An Analysis for Rise and Fall of Rankean Historiography

Leopold von Ranke is a revolutionary historian who made a massive impact on history writing by promoting empiricism, objectivity, and reliance on state archives in the 19th century. Still, his methodology was challenged by newcomer historians of the 20th century in terms of subjectivity and suspicion. As the new century witnessed many political, economic, and cultural changes, the generation raised in the mid-20th century matured their historical approach in parallel with these changes. Revision is one of the formal prerequisites for history writing, which allowed both Ranke and the historians of the mid-20th century to develop their methods for their generations. As anything born, live, and die, Rankean historical methodology got its share, naturally.

Tarihçilikte Değişen Metodolojiler: Ranke Tarihçiliğinin Yükselişi ve Düşüşünün Bir Analizi

Leopold von Ranke, 19. yüzyılda ampirizmi, nesnelliği ve devlet arşivlerine bağımlılığı teşvik ederek tarih yazımı üzerinde büyük bir etki yapan devrimci bir tarihçidir. Yine de, 20. yüzyılın yeni tarihçileri öznellik ve şüphecilik olgularına dayanarak Ranke'nin metodolojisine meydan okumuşlardır. Yeni yüzyılın birçok siyasi, ekonomik ve kültürel değişikliğe tanık olması nedeniyle, 20. yüzyılın ortalarında ortaya çıkan bu nesil, bu gelişmelere paralel olarak kendi tarihsel yaklaşımlarını olgunlaştırmışlardır. Revizyon, tarih yazımı açısından bir gerekliliktir ve hem Ranke'ye hem de 20. yüzyıl tarihçilerine kendi dönemlerine uygun metodları geliştirmeleri için olanak vermiştir. Her şeyin doğup, yaşayıp, ölmesi gibi Ranke tarihçiliği de doğal olarak bundan payını almıştır.

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