Why did Leopold von Ranke have difficulty explaining social and economic changes in the modern era?

Leopold von Ranke’s difficulty in explaining social and economic changes in the modern era stemmed primarily from his methodological focus and his reliance on specific source materials.

Ranke’s historical approach was centered on political history, specifically the foreign relations of states and their systems of government and administration. Because he prioritized these political structures, economic and social factors were barely reflected in the primary sources he utilized—such as reports from ambassadors and state papers—appearing only as vague "forces" or "tendencies" in the background.12

Furthermore, Ranke viewed history as the development of "spiritual entities," or states, which he considered "thoughts of God". This philosophical framework led him to focus on the inner workings of nation-states rather than the underlying social or economic shifts that characterized the modern age. Consequently, his work often addressed the central problems of a changing society only indirectly, and he maintained a notable bias against radical political and social movements, which he believed threatened the historical continuity of the state.321