Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - First part - IV. Education and Mental Culture - 10. Science - History
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
HISTORY.
445
History.
As in most other European countries, the writing of history began in Sweden
during medieval times with annalistic notes in the monasteries. From the
beginning of the 14tb century, anonymous chronicles written in verse or prose
began to appear. The earliest real national history is »Chronica Gothorum»
by Ericus Olai († 1486), who not only, like his predecessors, enumerated the
successive events, but also sought to show their inner connection. From the earlier
half of the 16th century there exist several works by the last Catholic Archbishop
of Sweden, Johannes Magni (1488/1544) and his brother Olaus Magni (1490/
1558), both deceased in exile. The former published a strictly ecclesiastical
history of the archbishopric of Uppsala, as well as an extremely phantastical
history of Sweden. The works of his brother are far more significant. He
published in Venice quite a remarkable map of the North, which was several times
reprinted; and later, in Rome, an extensive and very valuable ethnographical
description of Sweden, provided with numerous illustrations.
The greatest Swedish historian during the 16th century was the reformer
Olaus Petri (1493/1552). By his fine discernment of the real value of the
various sources, as well as by his dispassionate view, he is eminently superior to
his predecessors and nearest followers. His »Svenska Krönika» (Swedish Chronicle)
is one of the foremost works of Swedish history writing. The same century also
offers a series of chronicles partly founded on oral statements, about the life and
official acts of the various Kings, and a large number of political pamphlets.
Much superior to these chronicles is »Scondia illustrata» by Johannes Messenius
(1579/1636), a political adventurer educated abroad, who after his return to
Sweden abjured his Catholic faith, and was employed by the government. On
account of secret connections with Poland he was kept imprisoned from 1616 to
his death, and then in the prison prepared his great work, which treats of Swedish
history »from the Deluge» down to 1616, and which is of especial value for the
16th century. — King Gustavus Adolphus began a great work on his own reign,
but had only time to finish the introduction, which contains a sketch of the
history during the reign of his predecessors of the Vasa dynasty.
Later, archeological researches, nearly connected with the linguistic studies
of that day, were carried on with zeal and success. Johannes Schefferus (1621/79)
published works on philology, history of literature, and political history, bearing
witness of wide reading and critical acumen. His works promoted the development
of a critical method in historical writing. Olof Rudbeck (1630/1702) is a highly
gifted representative of the rich culture and experimental spirit of the age. He
was an anatomist, a botanist, a poet, an engraver, as well as an archeologist and
an historian. In »Atland» he attempted to prove Swedish culture to be of pristine
age, and the source of the culture of other countries. This hypothesis, which he
advocated with real enthusiasm and great scientific apparatus, created considerable
attention and was defended by several successors. The purely historical study
was at this time rather neglected. Yet, two foreigners in the Swedish service,
deserve mention here, viz., B. P. von Chemnitz (1605/78) and <S. von Puf
en-dorf (1632/94), both official historiographers. They wrote extensive works on the
Thirty Years’ War; and Pufendorf — the superior of the two — known also as a
prominent authority on international law, wrote, besides, the history of Charles X,
a work provided with excellent copper plates made from the drawings of the
distinguished Erik Dahlberg (1625/1703). A living interest in the collection and
publication of fundamental historical documents was, moreover, a characteristic of the
time. J. Hadorph (1630/93) and J. Peringskiöld (1654/1720) are prominent
representatives of this interest. Also political science now received successful attention.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
