Universal history (genre)

A universal history is a work aiming at the presentation of a history of all of humankind as a whole.^[1] Universal historians try to identify connections and patterns among individual historical events and phenomena, making them part of a general narrative.^[2] A universal chronicle or world chronicle typically traces history from the beginning of written information about the past up to the present.^[3] Therefore, any work classed as such purportedly attempts to embrace the events of all times and nations in so far as scientific treatment of them is possible.^[4]

Siegfried of Ballhausen was the first to use the title Historia universalis (universal history) in 1304.^[5]

^ Lamprecht 1905; Ploetz 1883, pp. ix–xii; Bossuet 1810, pp. 1–6.
^ Halmi, Nicholas (2023). "Universal Histories". Intellectual History Review. 33 (3): 367–374. doi:10.1080/17496977.2023.2180590. ISSN 1749-6977.
^ Ranke 1884, p. x: "History begins at the point where monuments become intelligible and documentary evidence of a trustworthy character is forthcoming but from this point onwards the domain is boundless for Universal History as understood."
^ Harding 1848, p. 1; Ranke 1884.
^ Borst 1991, p. 68.

[FOOTNOTELamprecht1905Ploetz1883ix–xiiBossuet18101–6-1] Lamprecht 1905; Ploetz 1883, pp. ix–xii; Bossuet 1810, pp. 1–6.

[2] Halmi, Nicholas (2023). "Universal Histories". Intellectual History Review. 33 (3): 367–374. doi:10.1080/17496977.2023.2180590. ISSN 1749-6977.

[3] Ranke 1884, p. x: "History begins at the point where monuments become intelligible and documentary evidence of a trustworthy character is forthcoming but from this point onwards the domain is boundless for Universal History as understood."

[FOOTNOTEHarding18481Ranke1884-4] Harding 1848, p. 1; Ranke 1884.

[FOOTNOTEBorst199168-5] Borst 1991, p. 68.

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