Eduard Meyer

German historian

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 17, 2026

Quick Summary

Eduard Meyer (1855–1930) was a German historian known for his comprehensive history of the ancient world. He possessed extensive knowledge of both Oriental and classical sources, which informed his significant contributions to the field of ancient history. Meyer's work was part of a broader development in classical scholarship during the 19th century, which emphasized rigorous source criticism and a deep engagement with historical texts and inscriptions. He was a contemporary of other prominent German scholars like Theodor Mommsen and contributed to the intellectual landscape of his time, influencing historical studies beyond just ancient history.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Judaism
Periodization
…of Judaism”) the German historian Eduard Meyer argued that Judaism originated in the Persian period, or the days of Ezra and Nehemiah (5th century bce); indeed, he attributed an important role in shaping the emergent religion to Persian imperialism.
Read More
…of Judaism”) the German historian Eduard Meyer argued that Judaism originated in the Persian period, or the days of Ezra and Nehemiah (5th century bce); indeed, he attributed an important role in shaping the emergent religion to Persian imperialism.
Read More