ABSTRACT
History was first conceived as the narration of memorable events. To preserve the memory and propagate the knowledge of glorious deeds, or of events which were of importance to a man, a family, or a people; such was the aim of history in the time of Thucydides and Livy. The ordinary framework of historical exposition was the life of a person, the whole life of a people, or a particular period in it; there were in antiquity but few essays in general history. It is that the scientific forms of historical exposition have been evolved and settled, in accordance with the general principle that the aim of history is not to please, nor to give practical maxims of conduct, nor to arouse the emotions, but knowledge pure and simple. The Germans are habitual offenders: consider Mommsen, Droysen, Curtius, and Lamprecht.
