author
Barthold Georg Niebuhr
1776–1831
Remembered as a pioneer of modern historical method, this Danish-born German scholar changed how readers understood early Rome. His sharp use of source criticism made him one of the most influential historians of the nineteenth century.
5 Audiobooks
Niebuhr's lectures on Roman history, Vol. 1 (of 3)
by Barthold Georg Niebuhr
Niebuhr's lectures on Roman history, Vol. 2 (of 3)
by Barthold Georg Niebuhr
Niebuhr's lectures on Roman history, Vol. 3 (of 3)
by Barthold Georg Niebuhr
About the author
Born in Copenhagen on August 27, 1776, Barthold Georg Niebuhr was the son of the explorer Carsten Niebuhr. He grew up with an unusually strong gift for languages and scholarship, later studying at the University of Kiel before moving into public service as well as academic life.
Niebuhr built a career that crossed government, finance, and scholarship: he worked as a statesman and banker, taught in Berlin, and later lectured at the University of Bonn. He became especially famous for his work on ancient Rome, arguing that historians should test traditional stories against evidence rather than simply repeat them.
His History of Rome helped open what many later writers described as a new era in historical study. Though some of his conclusions were debated, his method of careful source criticism had a lasting impact, and he is still remembered as a foundational figure in modern historiography.