Johann Christoph Gatterer
Encyclopedia
Johann Christoph Gatterer (July 13, 1727 – April 5, 1799) was a German historian
who was a native of Lichtenau
, Bavaria
. He was the father of cameralist Christoph Wilhelm Jacob Gatterer
(1759–1838) and poet Magdalena Philippine Engelhard (1756–1831).
From 1747 he studied theology
at Altdorf
, where his interest later changed to history. In 1752 he became a school teacher of history and geography
in Nuremberg
, and in 1756 gained his professorship in natural history
. In 1759 he was appointed professor of history at the University of Göttingen, where he remained for the next forty years.
Gatterer was a pioneer of "universal history
", and with fellow Göttingen
historian August Ludwig von Schlözer
(1735–1809), he was instrumental in developing a modern, hermeneutical approach to history. He believed that historical events needed to be systematically arranged by describing their causal relationships, rather than simply providing a chronology of events. Gatterer used the phrase nexus rerum universalis to represent "a universal connection of things in the world".
His focus dealt largely with ancillary disciplines such as genealogy
, heraldry
, diplomacy
, and physical geography
, and he treated these subjects from a modern scientific viewpoint. Gatterer promoted his ideas on these subjects in the journals Allgemeine historische Bibliothek (1767–1771) and Historisches Journal (1772–1781).
Since 1954 the Johann Christoph-Gatterer Medal is awarded by the Genealogisch-Heraldische Gesellschaft Göttingen (GHGG) for scientific achievements in the field of genealogy and heraldry.
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
who was a native of Lichtenau
Lichtenau, Bavaria
Lichtenau is a market town in the district of Ansbach, Mittelfranken, Bavaria, Germany.-External links:* * A small village/town of roughly 3,780 population just off the infamous “Castle Road” theme route of Southern Germany. Its a small market town in the district of Ansbach, Mittelfranken,...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
. He was the father of cameralist Christoph Wilhelm Jacob Gatterer
Christoph Wilhelm Jacob Gatterer
Christoph Wilhelm Jacob Gatterer was a German cameralist and natural historian born in Göttingen. He was the son of historian Johann Christoph Gatterer ....
(1759–1838) and poet Magdalena Philippine Engelhard (1756–1831).
From 1747 he studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Altdorf
Altdorf bei Nürnberg
Altdorf bei Nürnberg is a town in south-eastern Germany. It is situated 25 km east of Nuremberg, in the district Nürnberger Land. Its name literally means Altdorf near Nuremberg, to distinguish it from other Altdorfs.-History:...
, where his interest later changed to history. In 1752 he became a school teacher of history and geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
, and in 1756 gained his professorship in natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
. In 1759 he was appointed professor of history at the University of Göttingen, where he remained for the next forty years.
Gatterer was a pioneer of "universal history
Universal history
Universal history is basic to the Western tradition of historiography, especially the Abrahamic wellspring of that tradition. Simply stated, universal history is the presentation of the history of humankind as a whole, as a coherent unit.-Ancient authors:...
", and with fellow Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
historian August Ludwig von Schlözer
August Ludwig von Schlözer
August Ludwig von Schlözer was a German historian who laid foundations for the critical study of Russian history.-Early career:...
(1735–1809), he was instrumental in developing a modern, hermeneutical approach to history. He believed that historical events needed to be systematically arranged by describing their causal relationships, rather than simply providing a chronology of events. Gatterer used the phrase nexus rerum universalis to represent "a universal connection of things in the world".
His focus dealt largely with ancillary disciplines such as genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
, heraldry
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
, diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
, and physical geography
Physical geography
Physical geography is one of the two major subfields of geography. Physical geography is that branch of natural science which deals with the study of processes and patterns in the natural environment like the atmosphere, biosphere and geosphere, as opposed to the cultural or built environment, the...
, and he treated these subjects from a modern scientific viewpoint. Gatterer promoted his ideas on these subjects in the journals Allgemeine historische Bibliothek (1767–1771) and Historisches Journal (1772–1781).
Since 1954 the Johann Christoph-Gatterer Medal is awarded by the Genealogisch-Heraldische Gesellschaft Göttingen (GHGG) for scientific achievements in the field of genealogy and heraldry.