Works of William Robertson
5 total works
The History of America is arguably Robertson's masterpiece. Moving far beyond the conventional realms of humanist historiography, these books deal with one of the most extraordinary consequences of the rise of the modern state system: the expansion of Europe and the growth of colonial empires in the New World and Asia.
An Historical Disquisition Concerning the Knowledge Which the Ancients Had of India
by William Robertson
Published 1 March 1999
William Robertson (1721-93), Principal of the University of Edinburgh and historiographer to His Majesty for Scotland, published this work in 1791. Already famous for a History of Scotland, which went into many editions, and a History of America, Robertson aimed to synthesise all earlier western accounts of the subcontinent from classical times to the sixteenth century. Beginning with a consideration of the practical difficulties facing explorers from Europe and Africa who headed east, Robertson discusses the (legendary) Pharaoh Sesostris of Egypt, Alexander the Great, and Roman military incursions into, and trade with, India, before turning to the Portuguese, Spanish, French and English explorers of the early modern period, furnishing his account with copious source notes. A long appendix then describes 'the genius, the manners, and institutions of the people of India, as far as they can be traced from the earliest ages to which our knowledge of them extends'.
Robertson vividly shows how the modern European state was created by the rivalries of great princes and religious reformers out of the decaying feudal system and a Christian church sunk in Roman superstition.
The works reprinted in this two-volume collection cover the length of Robertson's career, from his student days in 1737 to his closing years in 1789, and show his intellectual and stylistic evolution. Part One contains his lesser known writings and speeches. Subjects explored range from Greek translation to architectural history to university fund-raising to geological speculation to church politics. Part Two consists of the earliest biographical commentaries on Robertson's life, written by five men who knew him personally. Together these items reveal details of Robertson's life and career with the aim of giving the reader a wider picture of Robertson's character and career.
Deals with the development of Scotland up to its union with England and its subsequent involvement in British imperialism, setting the story in the context of an account of the rise and fall of feudalism. The chronological outline of this work helps the reader locate Robertson's various writings in the context of his ecclesiastical and academic career. The bibliography provides a list of the substantial scholarly works in Robertson that have appeared since 1900 and an essay offers an appraisal of the major historical writings.