Universal History (Sale et al)
Encyclopedia
The Universal History was a 65-volume universal history
of the world published in London
between 1747 and 1768. Contributors included George Sale
, George Psalmanazar
, Archibald Bower, George Shelvocke
, John Campbell
and John Swinton.
Although limited to the point of view of the European imperial powers at that time, it was one of the first works to attempt to unify the history of Western Europe with the stories of the world's other known cultures .
As a major historical synthesis on, among other subjects, European colonial activities overseas in the modern era, the Modern Part of a Universal History (1754-1765) can be considered, according to one specialist, Guido Abbattista, as a precursor of the famous abbé Raynal
's Histoire des Deux Indes (1770-1780), of which it was one of the most important, even if not acknowledged, sources.
- «The literary mill»: per una storia editoriale della Universal History (1736-1765), «Studi Settecenteschi», 1981, n° 2, pp. 91–133
- The business of Paternoster Row: towards a publishing history of the «Universal History», «Publishing History» (Cambridge, UK-Alexandria, Virginia), XVII, 1985, pp. 5–50
- Un dibattito settecentesco sulla storia universale (Ricerche sulle traduzioni e sulla circolazione della «Universal History»), in «Rivista storica italiana», a. CI, f. III, 1989, pp. 614–695
- “The English Universal History: publishing, authorship and historiography in a European project (1736-1790)”, Paper for the Aachen conference on “Weltgeshichten/Geschicthswelten. Universalgeschichte in der Frühen Neuzeit“, Historikertag Aachen September 2000, then in Storia della Storiografia, 39 (2001): 103-108
- Chapters of Abbattista's volume on Commercio, colonie e impero alla vigilia della Rivoluzione americana. John Campbell pubblicista e storico nell’Inghilterra del sec. XVIII, Firenze, Olschki, 1990, are dedicated to the large sections of the Universal History on the European expansion and colonialism overseas
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:...
of the world published in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
between 1747 and 1768. Contributors included George Sale
George Sale
George Sale was an Orientalist and practising solicitor, best known for his 1734 translation of the Qur'an into English. He was also author of The General Dictionary, in ten volumes, folio....
, George Psalmanazar
George Psalmanazar
George Psalmanazar claimed to be the first Formosan to visit Europe. For some years he convinced many in Britain, but was later revealed to be an impostor...
, Archibald Bower, George Shelvocke
George Shelvocke
Captain George Shelvocke was an English privateer who wrote a famous 1723 book based on his exploits, A Voyage Round the World By Way of The Great South Sea....
, John Campbell
John Campbell (author)
John Campbell was a Scottish author. He contributed to George Sale's Universal History, and wrote a Political Survey of Britain...
and John Swinton.
Although limited to the point of view of the European imperial powers at that time, it was one of the first works to attempt to unify the history of Western Europe with the stories of the world's other known cultures .
As a major historical synthesis on, among other subjects, European colonial activities overseas in the modern era, the Modern Part of a Universal History (1754-1765) can be considered, according to one specialist, Guido Abbattista, as a precursor of the famous abbé Raynal
Guillaume Thomas François Raynal
Guillaume Thomas Raynal was a French writer and man of letters during the Age of Enlightenment.He was born at Lapanouse in Rouergue...
's Histoire des Deux Indes (1770-1780), of which it was one of the most important, even if not acknowledged, sources.
Further reading
See the works by Guido Abbattista (University of Trieste, Italy):- «The literary mill»: per una storia editoriale della Universal History (1736-1765), «Studi Settecenteschi», 1981, n° 2, pp. 91–133
- The business of Paternoster Row: towards a publishing history of the «Universal History», «Publishing History» (Cambridge, UK-Alexandria, Virginia), XVII, 1985, pp. 5–50
- Un dibattito settecentesco sulla storia universale (Ricerche sulle traduzioni e sulla circolazione della «Universal History»), in «Rivista storica italiana», a. CI, f. III, 1989, pp. 614–695
- “The English Universal History: publishing, authorship and historiography in a European project (1736-1790)”, Paper for the Aachen conference on “Weltgeshichten/Geschicthswelten. Universalgeschichte in der Frühen Neuzeit“, Historikertag Aachen September 2000, then in Storia della Storiografia, 39 (2001): 103-108
- Chapters of Abbattista's volume on Commercio, colonie e impero alla vigilia della Rivoluzione americana. John Campbell pubblicista e storico nell’Inghilterra del sec. XVIII, Firenze, Olschki, 1990, are dedicated to the large sections of the Universal History on the European expansion and colonialism overseas
External links
- Hathi Trust. An Universal history, from the earliest account of time. Compiled from original authors; and illustrated with maps, cuts, notes, &c. With a general index to the whole. London, Printed for T. Osborne [etc.] 1747-1768. 65 volumes.