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.
446
IV. EDUCATION AND MENTAL CULTURE IN SWEDEN.
O. von Dalin (1708/
63) was commissioned by
the Diet to prepare »Svea
rikes historia» (The
History of Sweden), a work
which by its artistic style
greatly contributed
towards expanding the
historical interest. Greater
perhaps than Dalin, as
a scientific writer, was
the learned S.
Lagerbring (1707/87), who
described the medieval
times of Sweden with
profound criticism and
a greater use of foreign
sources than his
predecessors. By numerous
investigations into details
he created an interest in
special researches, and
attracted pupils. The
interest in collecting
fundamental documents lasted
and as a representative
of it may be mentioned
A. A. von Stiernnuui
(1695/1765). The
historiographer A.
Schönberg (1737/1811) distinguished himself by thorough investigation as well as by the
clearness and succinctness of his presentation of facts. About the middle of the
18th century successful attempts were made to describe in a systematic way the
Constitutions of that time. — At the end of the century J. Hallenberg (1748/1834)
made a masterly presentation of the history of Gustavus Adolphus (up to 1626).
The memoir literature was especially liked and abundant during the time of
Gustavus III (1771/92) and during the beginning of the 19th century. The study of
local and of cultural history also received the attention of many authors.
Among the historians of the 19th century E. G. Geijer (1783/1847) is the
most distinguished, as he is also, by common consent, one of the greatest and
most scientific thinkers among the Swedes of his day. His works (The History of the
Swedish People up to 1654, and many others) are masterpieces of critical acumen
and pithy presentation. More than all his predecessors he recognized the evolution
and continuity in history; and with superior genius he has given both social
surveys and character sketches. His influence on later historical writing in Sweden
has been equally great and healthful. — A. M. Strinnholm (1786/1862) treated
most of the time of Gustavus Vasa, and published, besides, an interesting and
comprehensive work about the oldest cultural history of Sweden. A. Fryxell
<1795/1881), whose vivid »Berättelser ur Svenska historien» (Episodes from Swedish
History) have become real folk-reading, awakened in wide circles the interest in
Swedish history and Swedish legends.
The ever increasing necessity of archive studies has made Stockholm, where
all the main archives are found, ever more the center of Swedish history writing.
A large number of very important scries of fundamental documents have been
Erik Gustaf Geijer.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
