Edward Gibbon and his contribution to Historiography - Research Paper Example

? Edward Gibbon and his contribution to historiography Edward Gibbon and his contribution to historiography The importance of history and its research is of great importance in understanding the course of events of the past that affect us in the contemporary society. Gaining an understanding of the writings presented by historians is vital in this endeavor, but also quite critical is gaining an understanding of their thought process, attitudes of life and inspirations for delving into such discussions or topic; this is what drives the study of Edward Gibbon, an acclaimed historian whose work remains relevant through a the study of history. In order to know more about him comprehensively, we have to answer questions about who he was, what drove him to write, and what perceptions of his work were adopted by both his contemporaries and modern day readers. The term historiography refers to the theory and history of writing.1 It can also be defined as the academic prospect of writing history and how historians came to understand these records.2 Due to the complexity and inaccuracy associated with historical study, historiography thus enables us to identify and appreciate these discrepancies in a bid to find the truth. It also helps us gain insight on humanity; the knowledge that would enable us to avoid mistakes made in the past that led to catastrophes and borrow those that were beneficial.3 For example, the study of the fall of the Roman Empire would easily be relevant in the modern day superpowers and thus the statement; history repeats itself. The historiography’s progression, and its methods and conception, changed and developed substantially. All of the past sources of history, to the seventeenth century started accumulating in the enlightenment period. One of the major influential historians and academician of the period was Edward Gibbon. Edward Gibbon (April 27, 1737-January 16, 1794) was a historian in the 18th century, and his writing on history was an important element among his contemporaries and is still an important topic of study in modern day academic scholars of historiography.4 In his life time he served as a soldier during the English seven-year war, managed his family’s business and was also a member of parliament. He was born in Putney, England in a period of ‘enlightenment.’ Edward Gibbon was born April 27, 1737 to Edward and Judith Gibbon in Putney, London, England5. He was raised as the only child after his six siblings died at infancy. His father was an heir to an affluent family.6 During this period, there was a wide revolutionary thinking on the perception and acceptance of Christian theology and church dogma. He was born to an affluent family, according to the standards of the period; his early education was profound, as demonstrated by his ability to engage in scholastic research and writing at a relatively young age.7 His childhood was marred by poor health and he describes himself as “a weakly child” and nearly succumbed to death several times. He was vastly ignored by his parents who were occupied with their social life and was abandoned to inadequate caregivers who were household servants and physicians.8 One of the ways that he uses method or conception from the past is evident in the classical period. By the Enlightenment and eighteen century, we find that Classical writers have been highly common in academic all over the European continent, with similarities in all his works, from writers of the ancient Rome and Greece. A Greek writer, Heredotus, wrote “The Persian Wars’ that has the theme of geography and ethnography, of the Near East people. Gibbon also appears to have the same theses in the “He is popular for several publications, but the major one is the ‘Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,’ by the manner in which he comprehends all the Europe’s ‘barbaric’ people. In addition, another idea that he appears to have adopted from the ancient Greece is that of universal history; this idea was presented well by Polybius; however, Gibbon continues it in the manner that he writes a cumulative history covering the start of the Roman Empire to its collapse. His greatest work, a six volume historical expose’ on the Roman Empire and its demise, The History of the Decline and fall of the Roman Empire(1776-1789) provides historians with a reliable reference source on the Byzantium, while at the same time offering a rewarding topic of research to historiographers.9 In his memoirs, Gibbons describes them as self-serving and unreliable. Having no grief after the passing of his mother when he was nine years old demonstrates the absence of maternal love in his infancy. His relationship with his father was no better, the man whom he describes as self-indulgent and undisciplined, squandered his inheritance on gambling and other vices with complete disregard of his responsibilities as a father and business man.10 His relationship with his parents dictated the course of his life. His writings and thought process is linked to the psychological frame of mind developed during events surrounding his mother’s death.11 Fortunately for him, his mother’s sister, "Aunt Kitty" Porten took him in and it is with her influence that his academic mind was natured as she imparted the appreciation of reading which he states “taste for books which is still the pleasure and glory of my life.” Gibbon went to Dr. Woddeson's school at the age of nine to learn English, and later on stayed at Bath to improve his health; he was placed with tutor to whom he describes as having done nothing to further his education. His healthy reading habit led him to identify his interest in history at a very early age. A habit of intellectual independence was developed at this stage and stayed with him through his entire life. Some of his reading included: William Howel (l)'s An Institution of General History (1680–1685), Laurence Echard'sRoman History (1713) and the celebrated Universal History from the Earliest Account of Time (1747–1768), act as an indication of his future as a historian. With the onset of adolescence, his health improved and at 15 years, his father sent him to Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was enrolled as a gentleman-commoner. His experience at the college was however later regretted as he describes the lecturers as being similar to his father’s lack of concern and willingness to teach. Despite these circumstances, he explored the world of “Theological controversy” which eventually led to his conversion to Roman Catholicism on June 8th 1753. This conversion legally disqualified him for all public service and office angered his father, who was already despairing, and he was removed from Oxford and sent him to Switzerland. While living under the care and tutelage of David Pavillard, Calvinist pastor of Lausanne, he reconverted to Protestantism during five-year intellectually productive period. With influence and competent instruction of Pavillard, he studied mathematics and logic, became familiar with French literature and classical. He read Latin literature, traveled throughout Switzerland studying its cantons' constitutions, and assertively mined the literary works of Hugo Grotius, Blaise Pascal, Samuel Pufendorf, John Locke, and Pierre Bayle. His social life also assumes a dynamically positive path when he meets two of his lifelong friends Jacques Georges Deyverdun and John Baker Holroyd (later Lord Sheffield) and also his passionate love affair with Suzanne Curchord. His relationship with Suzanne was a passionate mutual attraction whose existence was short lived due to his father’s disapproval and Suzanne’sreluctance to leave Switzerland. In 1758 Gibbon’s attempt to personally confront his father was futile and he vowed to cut off all contact with Suzanne and with this died all prospects of marriage life. Gibbon published his first book, Essaisurl'Etude de la Litteraturea work that showed that he was not yet a mature historian.12In 1761 upon return to England, he spent four years in active service during the “Seven Years’ war” with the Hampshire militia and another seven in reserve. It was during a visit to Rome, while on the Grand Tour of Continental Europe, that he first conceived the idea of composing a history of the Roman Empire. He describes the moment of inspiration; “It was on the fifteenth of October, in the gloom of evening, as I sat musing on the Capitol, while the barefooted fryars were chanting their litanies in the temple of Jupiter, that I conceived the first thought of my history.”13 After his father’s death in 1770, he acquired the means to settle in London and two years later began serious writing. After a short stint at the prestigious Royal Academy as a 'professor in ancient history', he entered the House of Commons representing Liskeared, Cornwall in 1774 but assumed a quiet ‘back benched’ role. The History of the Decline and fall of the Roman Empire Volume I was published in 1776 after seven years of laboring. Its reception by the public was good and three editions were quickly published and endeavor which was handsomely rewarding. In 1781, Volumes II and III were published and the last three volumes written while he was on retreat to Lausanne and published in 17881788. His Contemporaries such as Adam Smith, Adam Fergason and the rest scholars praised his work. Smith remarked that Gibbon's triumph had positioned him "at the very head of (Europe)'s literary tribe."14 In December, 1793 Gibbon’s health took to the decline and by January 16th 1794 at age 56 he succumbed to his illness and was Sheffield family graveyard at the parish church in Fletching, Sussex.15Edward Gibbon, despite having written other works, is noted for his most prominent work, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire written and published between the years 1772-1789. It was a major literary achievement of the eighteenth century. He borrowed heavily from other writers such as Mabillon, Jean (1632-1707), Montfasucon, Bernard (1655-1741) and Lidovico, Muratori (1672-1741). In his autobiography he reflects on how the work virtually became his life.16The volumes covered the era of the Roman Empirefrom just before 180 AD and concluding in 1590. They offered an explanation as to why the Roman Empire fell, pointing out the conduct of the ruler and their political decisions which led to the fall Roman Empire. Gibbon’s objectivity and accuracy in the use of reference material that became a writing model for the historical discourses of nineteenth and twentieth century earned him the title“first modern historian”17 He explored a wide range of historical factors that revolved around the concepts of barbarism and civilization, philosophy and religion, manliness and effeminacy, simplicity and luxury, and moderation and Byzantium. By attempting to answer one of the greatest and most difficult questions at the time with the relative absence of written records on the cause for collapse of the Roman Empire, his extraordinarily well written text easily became famous. He borrowed most of his ideas from Byzantine moralists from the period, who wrote about Rome’s demise in real time. He suggests that the Roman Empire succumbed to barbarian mercenary’s integration into its system following the citizens becoming effeminate, laziness, weak and unwilling to live a military lifestyle. By hiring numerous barbarian mercenaries to defend it, Rome created a loop hole for their penetration into government. He also attacked Christianity for diminishing the spirit of Sacrifice for the empire and the pacifistic stand preached by the religion that dimmed the traditional martial way of life. This occurred due the religious belief that a life was better after death and led to the nonchalant attitude towards earthly lifeamong Roman citizens. Recent reviews of his Decline and fall of the Roman Empire have not clearly stated the coincidental regeneration of studies of late ancient times and early, middle ages in Europe and America in the last decade partly inspired by the contributions of scholars like Peter Brown, John Matthews and Michael Wallace-Hadrill. There is no way, with the utter importance and scope of his work, can we ignore the details of his history and regard it merely as just any other piece of reading material. Seemingly, it is clear that he established a distinguished term of reference for the debate about the transformation of the Romans. With respect to his work of the 20th and 21st centuries, relative styles and analyses of concepts clearly show the extent of his subjectivity when dealing with important issues. To understand and appreciate him, it is imperative to acquire knowledge of his historiography and philosophical contexts. His work can be termed as a forceful interpretation of the period and not just a mere revelation of the 18th century intellectual attitudes. Regarding styles, his employment of contemporary ideas and the historical narrative cannot be separated. With respect to his ideas concerning the empire, these range from exploration of intellectual contexts to understanding of the monarchy and balance of power. Equally important are his sources and working methods, working structure, his attitude towards the barbarians, the contrasting treatments of eastern and western empires in Decline and fall. Further, his appreciation of past civilizations, as well as their factual remains and his visual sense have also been accorded utmost attention18. Also, his audience, and reactions- contemporary and modern to his text are considered in the light of modern research on 18th century intellectual history on one hand, and late antiquity, Byzantium and the middle Ages on the other. In his review, Pocock gives a clear enlightenment of Edward Gibbon’s Barbarism and religion.19The writer clearly reflects the relationship in England with the 18th century European Enlightenment. This work was done in the 20th century while Gibbon’s work was in the 18th century and also dated many decades back. This outrightly shows the extent of foundational, conceptual analysis that is evidenced in the works of Gibbon. This presumption is based on the argument from the enormous contributions made by other scholars to the works of Gibbon. Pocock’s own research clearly outlines the conceptual analysis, which existed in the 17th century. Equally important is the English Revolution which generated a considerable number of the central Enlightenment values. He perceived something approaching the full complexity and ambiguity in historical processes and thereby of the modern world. Pocock sees the enlightened cultural conservatism as anticipating Edmund Burke (1790).20 Manfred, Weidhorn in his works styles of Manliness in Antiquity and in Gibbon, Gibbon participates in the major onslaught on Christian religion and morals. This is in the quest of bringing to focus enlightenment to humanity regarding religion and upholding the aspect of manliness.21 This critical work by Manfred and Weidhorn argues that if the medieval lights that battle, fornicate and exterminate have not yet absorbed the Christian culture, the approach of Gibbon is that Christianity, having been well engrossed and integrated by humanity, is old and detrimental.22 Furthermore, the trans-valuation, which Christianity performed on older notions of manliness, has been performed in place of Christianity by the resurgent older tradition. His work regarding manliness added to some of the venerable definitions. What brings about difference is that, in the classics, the degree of manliness is portrayed and implied and not just discussed. His ability to express concepts to current scholars cannot be termed “a consequence of his scholarship, neither the authority of Gibbon’s historical judgment- notably defective, nor the power of his chronological judgment- often grotesquely biased, but entrenched in the style of his writing”.23 On the same note, the high drama and human interest of the subject matter of Gibbon’s work, and the fact that a majority of the philosophical dilemmas, which confront, and engage him seem remarkably familiar in the present day. In retrospect, his work lays down a firm foundation in history and methodological moves as well as developments within the field of history. It would thus not be an exaggeration to mention that he remains part of the mental furniture of any reasonably literate person. As Harris (1995) outlines Gibbon’s reputation has received a number of shots in the arm by the rise of literary theory, the fashion for Europeanism, and the revival of academic interest in the history of civic humanist thought. This is reflected in his famous verdict on the history of the middle ages: "I have described the triumph of barbarism and religion."24Gibbon is considered to be a true representative of the Enlightenment. His effect on history’s greats such as Winston Churchill is profound as stated by Churchill himself. Winston Churchill noted, "I set out upon Gibbon's Decline and fall of the Roman Empire [and] was immediately dominated by both the story and the style. I devoured Gibbon. I rode triumphantly through it from end to end."25Contemporary admiration of Gibbon’s works and notable achievements is critical and apparent among the historians who have attempted to write on a “Gibbonian” scale. This clearly shows the interest and impetus cultivated in them by the great works of Gibbon.26 Notably among the historians is Felipe Fernendez-Armesto, Millennium (London, 1995). It would also seem fascinating and extremely appealing to compare the works of Paul Johnson, “Namier’sice cream,’ and Anthony Pagden, “The Barbaric Spirit: is the day of Empires coming to an end?”27 In conclusion, the brilliance of Gibbon in his methodology is shown by the persistence of his work, which even to date, is very hard to belittle the accuracy he employs in the use of primary sources for evidence. Contemporary historians still rely on him as a secondary source, despite the evolution of historical methodology. His uses old-fashioned, skeptical, ironical and pessimistic tone in his writing. This achieves a portrayal of his inner self and generates enough thought into the discourse. BIBILIOGRAPHY Radice, Betty. (1984). Gibbon,Memmoirs of My Life. London: Thomas Nelson. Belz, Herman. (2006) “History, Historians, & Autobiography”. The Review of Metaphysics 60 no.1 Washington: Review of Metaphysics. Brian, Norman. (2002). The Influence of Switzerland on the life and writings of Edward Gibbon. Oxford: Voltaire Foundation. Gibbon Edward. (British historian) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia. 1998. (Accessed April 20, 2012). Gascoigne, John. (1998). “Edward Gibbon and Empire.” Canadian Journal of history 33, no. 2. McKitterick, Rosamond and Quinalt, Ronald, (1966). New York: Cambridge. University Press. Gibbon, Edward. (1966). Memoirs of my life, Bonnard GA, (Ed.). London: Thomas Nelson. Gibbon, Edward. New World Encyclopedia. (October 12, 2011). (Accessed March 6, 2012). Gibbon, Edward. (1995). The Decline and the fall of the Roman Empire, Vol. 1. (1737-1794). Harris, Jose. (1995). “Review of David Womersley’s Edition of Decline and fall”; In the Times Higher Education Supplement. Ho, Eugene, and Kong, H. Gibbon, Edward: Historian of the Roman, Empire Part I: The Man, and His Book. 1997. (Accessed March 6, 2012). Ho, Eugene. Gibbon, Edward: Historian of the Roman, Empire Part II: A Closer Look at the Decline and the fall. http://www.his.com/~z/gibho2.html. 2001. (Accessed April 17th, 2012). Churchill, Winston. (1930). My Early Life: A Roving Commission. London: T. Butterworth, Ltd. Read More