The Influence of Monarchs: Steps in a New Science of History (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Frederick Adams Woods

 
9781333592035: The Influence of Monarchs: Steps in a New Science of History (Classic Reprint)

Synopsis

This book reshapes our understanding of the influence of monarchs on history using a new form of analysis that measures the force of heredity against circumstance. The author, a pioneer in the field of historiometry, has compiled 368 reigns or periods from 14 European countries into a single, systematic study. The book's central idea is that rulers have influenced the conditions in which they ruled and not vice versa. It offers cogent reasons for believing that monarchs have shaped changing conditions to a great extent, positing that the personal characteristics of kings and queens are the master key to history. This genealogical interpretation of history is a welcome departure from the philosophical approaches that have failed to yield a comprehensive understanding of historical events. Instead, this fresh perspective provides a framework for successful interpretation. It employs rigorous methods of proof to identify correlations and weigh causes, thereby opening up new avenues for the advancement of the social sciences and our broader appreciation of the complex forces that shape human history.

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