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Ernst BernheimGerman historian, source scholar and historical methodologist
Date of Birth: 19.02.1850
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Early Life and Education
Ernst Bernheim was born in Hamburg, Germany, to Ludwig Bernheim, a merchant, and Emma Simon. He attended Hamburg's municipal school before enrolling in the history department at the University of Berlin in 1868. He later transferred to the University of Heidelberg and then to the University of Strasbourg, where he earned his doctorate in 1873 under the supervision of the renowned medievalist Georg Waitz. Bernheim was awarded both a doctorate in philosophy and a doctorate in law.
Academic Career
In 1875, Bernheim submitted another dissertation under the guidance of Julius Weizs?cker, a prominent associate of Leopold von Ranke. This dissertation earned him his Dr. habil qualification and a position as a private lecturer at the University of Göttingen. In 1883, he was appointed extraordinary professor at the University of Greifswald, where he became a full professor in 1889 and held the chair of Auxiliary Historical Disciplines. In 1899, he was unanimously elected rector of the university, a position he held until his retirement in 1921.
Religious Conversion
In 1886, Bernheim converted from Judaism to Protestantism.Contributions to Historiography
Bernheim is best known for his groundbreaking works in historiography, source criticism, and the methodology of history. His "Textbook of Historical Method and Philosophy of History" (1889) has become a classic in the field and has been translated into numerous languages. Another notable work is "Introduction to Historical Science" (1885), which was translated into Russian and went through multiple editions in pre-1917 Imperial Russia.
