ABSTRACT
The main characteristics of medieval historiography, both that dealing with general and that dealing with local history, will be discussed: first, up to the end of the fourteenth century, and, second, as a prelude to the later age, in the fifteenth century; it will be necessary in these two sections to recapitulate apposite points made earlier in this survey. Finally, what happened to the medieval tradition of historical writing in the sixteenth century will be considered. According to the Orosian concept the purpose of history was to edify the reader: it was to teach him by examples to appreciate that God rewards virtue and punishes vice, and to make him comprehend the divine power. Chronicles written in favour of the government, equally with those inimical to central authority, have a unitary theme. It was apparently towards the end of the thirteenth century that the government began to fully appreciate the value of history as an instrument of propaganda.
