The History of the Popes, Books V, VI, and VII

Leopold von Ranke was a pioneering 19th-century historian, widely regarded as the father of modern historical scholarship. His approach emphasized the importance of primary sources and objective analysis, moving away from the interpretive, moralistic histories of earlier times. Ranke's works, particularly on European political and religious history, introduced rigorous methodologies that transformed the study of history into a scientific discipline. His multi-volume studies on the Papacy, the Reformation, and various European states continue to be influential for their factual depth and methodological precision.