- In full:
- John Bagnell Bury
- Born:
- Oct. 16, 1861, County Monaghan, Ire.
- Died:
- June 1, 1927, Rome, Italy (aged 65)
- Subjects Of Study:
- Byzantine Empire
- Roman Empire
J.B. Bury
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Who was J.B. Bury?
J.B. Bury (1861–1927) was a British classical scholar and historian celebrated for his extensive knowledge and writings on Greek, Roman, and Byzantine history; classical philology and literature; and the theory and philosophy of history. Educated at Foyle College and Trinity College, Dublin, he became a fellow in 1885 and later a professor at Cambridge.
Bury's notable works include a new edition of Edward Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, A History of Greece to the Death of Alexander the Great, A History of Freedom of Thought, and The Idea of Progress. He saw history as a science, emphasizing reason and progress. Bury is also known for helping revive Byzantine studies, encompassing its philosophy, art, culture, and architecture.
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What subjects did J.B. Bury study or write about?
J.B. Bury was a British scholar and historian who wrote about a variety of subjects including Greek, Roman, and Byzantine history, as well as classical philology and literature, and the theory and philosophy of history. Bury's works are regarded as outstanding examples of the revival of Byzantine studies. Highly trained in classics and philology, he developed an interest in history in the 1880s.
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Which area of history was J.B. Bury known for?
J.B. Bury was a British scholar and historian known for his extensive work in Greek, Roman, and Byzantine history. His scholarly range was remarkable, covering classical philology and literature, as well as the theory and philosophy of history. Trained in classics and philology, Bury significantly contributed to the revival of Byzantine studies, viewing history as a methodological science that chronicles humanity's rational progress.
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What important books or works did J.B. Bury publish?
J.B. Bury was a British scholar and historian known for his works on Greek, Roman, and Byzantine history, as well as classical philology, literature, and the philosophy of history.
Some of his major publications include:
* The Nemean Odes of Pindar (1890)
* A History of the Later Roman Empire, from Arcadius to Irene, 2 vol. (1889)
* History of the Roman Empire from Its Foundation to the Death of Marcus Aurelius (1893)
* A new edition of Edward Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (1896–1900)
* A History of Greece to the Death of Alexander the Great (1900)
* The Ancient Greek Historians (1909)
* A History of the Eastern Roman Empire from the Fall of Irene to the Accession of Basil I (1912)
* A History of Freedom of Thought (1914)
* The Idea of Progress (1920)
* History of the Later Roman Empire from the Death of Theodosius I to the Death of Justinian (1923)1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How did J.B. Bury change how people studied history?
J.B. Bury, a British scholar, significantly influenced the study of history by advocating for a scientific, methodological approach. He viewed history as a science, albeit one with enough unpredictable elements to prevent broad generalizations or moral lessons. Bury emphasized reason and its role in understanding the past and present. His work, History of Freedom of Thought, reflects his view of history as a record of humanity's rational progress. Moreover, Bury helped revive Byzantine studies in England, encompassing philosophy, art, culture, and architecture as valid aspects of a civilization's history.
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What is J.B. Bury’s lasting influence on the field of history today?
J.B. Bury was a British scholar and historian whose work is considered among the finest illustrations of the revival of Byzantine studies. Highly trained in classics and philology, Bury began developing an interest in history in the 1880s.
Bury regarded history as a methodological science. In addition to providing high standards of scholarly excellence, he was one of the first English historians to participate in the revival of Byzantine studies, including philosophy, art, culture, and architecture, as valid representations of a civilization’s history.
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J.B. Bury (born Oct. 16, 1861, County Monaghan, Ire.—died June 1, 1927, Rome, Italy) was a British classical scholar and historian. The range of Bury’s scholarship was remarkable: he wrote about Greek, Roman, and Byzantine history; classical philology and literature; and the theory and philosophy of history. His works are considered to be among the finest illustrations of the revival of Byzantine studies.
The son of a prominent Irish clergyman, Bury was educated by his well-read parents and sent to Foyle College, Londonderry, and in 1878 entered Trinity College, Dublin. Graduating with honours in 1882, he was elected a fellow in 1885; he received a chair in modern history there eight years later and in 1902 was appointed regius professor of modern history at the University of Cambridge, where he remained until his death.
Highly trained in classics and philology, Bury began developing an interest in history in the 1880s. By 1890 he had published The Nemean Odes of Pindar, and two years later he completed another work, The Isthmian Odes of Pindar, simultaneously serving as editor on the scholarly journal Kottabos.
After learning Russian and Hungarian, Bury produced two major volumes on the Roman Empire, A History of the Later Roman Empire, from Arcadius to Irene, 2 vol. (1889), and the History of the Roman Empire from Its Foundation to the Death of Marcus Aurelius (1893). Between 1896 and 1900 he completed a new edition of Edward Gibbon’s Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire with notes and appendixes documenting new research. He also produced A History of Greece to the Death of Alexander the Great (1900) and acted as editor of the Byzantine Texts between 1898 and 1904. A series of lectures that he delivered at Harvard University in 1908 was published a year later as The Ancient Greek Historians, and in 1912 he added another volume to his works on Rome, A History of the Eastern Roman Empire from the Fall of Irene to the Accession of Basil I.
Widening his interests to more generalized studies in intellectual history, Bury later wrote A History of Freedom of Thought (1914) and The Idea of Progress (1920). His last work was yet another volume on Rome, History of the Later Roman Empire from the Death of Theodosius I to the Death of Justinian (1923). Two posthumous publications of his lectures were The Invasion of Europe by the Barbarians (1928) and History of the Papacy in the 19th Century (1864–1878) (1930). In addition to his other publications, he edited the Cambridge Ancient History and planned much of the Cambridge Medieval History.
Bury regarded history as a methodological science, though involving factors sufficiently fortuitous to discourage inference of general laws or of didactic guidance. His skepticism, however, was limited; in general, he represented the Victorian generation and its ultimate faith in the growth of reason and its capacity to elucidate the European past and make intelligible the present. His History of Freedom of Thought probably best expresses his conception of history as the record of man’s rational struggles and progress. In addition to providing high standards of scholarly excellence, he was one of the first English historians to participate in the revival of Byzantine studies, including philosophy, art, culture, and architecture, as valid representations of a civilization’s history.