Fernand Braudel is one of the most famous historians of France. His idea of taking into account geographical and economic facts in comprehending historical processes revolutionized science. Braudel was most interested in the birth of the capitalist system. The scientist also entered the historiographical school "Annals", which was engaged in the study of historical phenomena in the social sciences.
Biography
Fernand Braudel was born in 1902, on August 24, in the city of Lumeville, near Verdun. He was the son of a rural teacher and spent part of his childhood on a farm with his grandmother. But staying in nature was short-lived - in 1908, Braudel moved to Paris.
In 1913, the future historian enters the Voltaire Lyceum, which successfully ends in 1920, and continues his studies at the Sorbonne. This famous Parisian university young man graduates in 1923. At this time, he had already decided to connect his destiny with teaching. Braudel really wanted to get a place in the high school of Bar-le-Duc, which was located near his home. However, these hopes were not destined to come true. And Fernand went as a teacher to Algerian college. This time was very fruitful for his scientific research, and in 1928 his first scientific article was published. At this time, he met with Paula, his future wife. In addition, the historian managed to go through military service in Germany, in the French occupation group, from 1925 to 1926.
Nevertheless, he seeks a scientific career. The historian decides to write a dissertation on the history of Spain, despite the recommendations of the Sorbonne professors to take a topic related to Germany. In 1927, Braudel's exploration began. He turns to historical materials stored in the libraries of Salamanca, visits famous places in the Mediterranean, for example, the city of Dubrovnik in Yugoslavia, where there is a lot of evidence of the 16th century.
Return to Paris and the fateful acquaintance
In 1932, Fernand Braudel returned to Paris and became a teacher at the Lyceum of Condorcet, and later at the Lyceum of Henry IV. At this time, his friendship begins, which will result in many years of cooperation with another professor of history - Lucien Fevre. The magazine created by the last in 1929, “Annals of Economic and Social History”, will play a huge role. This publication was not just scientific, but in some way revolutionary in nature, since it subjected to a review of research methods, subjects and the very view of history as a science. Fevre suggested, studying history, to pay attention not only to wars and monarchs who found themselves on the throne, but also to the everyday life of ordinary people in peacetime. These views seriously affected Braudel and in many ways became the impetus for his own research.
In 1935, Braudel received an offer to become a professor at the University of São Paulo and went to Brazil. However, he did not stay there long and already in 1937 returned to his homeland, and the next year he got a place in the Paris Practical School of Higher Studies. At this time, his friendship with Fevren grew stronger, and Braudel decided to write a book, led by a friend, dedicated to the medieval period of the Mediterranean. However, the outbreak of war prevented these plans.
In 1939, Braudel was in the ranks of the French army. And the very next year the historian is captured and spends all his war years in Nazi camps, first in Mainz, and then in a concentration camp on the Baltic coast.
Post-war years
Fernand Braudel, whose books today are popular not only among historians, but also among ordinary readers, received freedom only after the end of World War II and immediately returned to France. Here, at home, he took the post of teacher of the Sorbonne. In 1947, Braudel's friend, Febvre, founded the fourth section of the Practical School of Higher Studies, devoted to economic and social sciences. The foundation was financed by the Rockefeller Foundation. This moment will also play an important role in the biography of Braudel himself.
In 1949, the historian leaves the Sorbonne and becomes the head of the department at the College de France. He has been working here for quite some time.
In 1956, Lucien Fevre dies, and Braudel becomes president of the fourth section of the School of Practice, founded by his friend. The historian will hold this post until 1973. In addition, Braudel becomes the chief editor of the magazine founded by Fevre, which by that time was called “Annals. Economy. Society. Civilizations. "
First publications and the House of Sciences
In 1958, Braudel published a methodological article that would become fundamental to his theory. The publication was called "History and Social Sciences."
In 1959, the historian came up with the idea to open a science center and a library. He even came up with a name for this place - "House of Human Sciences." Braudel literally caught fire with this idea, but for its implementation it was necessary to find a considerable sum of money. He succeeded only in 1970 - the Ford Foundation became the sponsor. After the opening of the “House”, Braudel became the chief administrator of this institution.
Fernand Braudel does not leave research activities either. Capitalism is his main passion for several years. The historian was seriously interested in the causes of this phenomenon. And the most valuable thing in this aspect is that Braudel looked at this phenomenon from an unusual angle. As always, he attached great importance to the “insignificant” details for traditional science - the life of ordinary citizens.
In 1967, the first part of one of the main works of those written by Fernand Braudel appears on the shelves of bookstores. “Material civilization” was a success with historians, but the author himself was not completely satisfied with the published version. Therefore, he is taken to finalize the book. Hard work ends in 1979 with the publication of the final version of the entire three-volume composition.
Last years
In 1970, Braudel left the post of editor-in-chief of the Annals due to disagreements with new employees. He remains only a nominal member of the management team of the publication. However, immediately finds himself no less worthy occupation Fernand Braudel. Books, scientific articles, the leadership of the "House of Science" - this is what the historian devotes all his time to. At the same time, he begins to work on the multi-volume work “The Identity of France”. However, he, unfortunately, will not be able to complete this work.
The famous historian ended his journey in the south of France, in a small town called Cote d'Azour, on November 28, 1985.
Interesting Facts
While in German captivity, Fernand Braudel managed to finish his dissertation on the Mediterranean during the reign of Philip II. This work was defended by a historian in 1947 and opened the way for him to great science. Five years in captivity, he worked without any book sources, taking notes on scraps of paper.
Braudel had the gift of finding talented scientists. So, he managed, one might say, to educate such celebrities in the world of science as M. Ferro, G. Duby, F. Fourier, J. Rivel and so on.
Fernand Braudel: "What is France?"
This work is the last work of the historian. At the same time, it was conceived as the beginning of a large cycle of books devoted to his native France. This part of the cycle consists of two volumes. The first is called Space and History, the second is People and Things.
This work of Braudel can be called the unique encyclopedia of France. Here you can find detailed information about the history, culture, nature of the country, about the national character and originality of its inhabitants. Reading this book, one can only admire how thoroughly Braudel studied his homeland.
“Material civilization, economics and capitalism”
This is the main work of Braudel, covering the time period from the XV to XVIII century and describing the economic history of the whole world. It was this work that the historian glorified. In addition, the work is called the highest achievement of the French historical school "Annals", as it embodied the basic principle of the school - to study history, it is necessary to synthesize all aspects of society.
The first part: “Structures of everyday life”
Of course, such a huge work could not be published in a single book, so Fernand Braudel divided it into three large parts. "Structures of everyday life" - this is the name of the first volume. Here is a detailed study of the economic aspect of human life in the era of fateful changes and the formation of capitalism. The book is devoted exclusively to material life. After reading it, you can understand how people lived during the Middle Ages and the birth of the New Age, not only in Europe, but also beyond its borders. I took care of the examples of Fernand Braudel. The "structures of everyday life" are replete with various confirmations and extracts from the treatises of those times, which facilitates reading and makes the book accessible to a wide range of readers.
Part Two: “Sharing Games”
This part is dedicated to the commercial activities of the Middle Ages. Braudel describes almost all aspects of this area: the work of peddlers, the specifics of long-distance trading, international exchanges, and credit cantors. The historian focuses on how the work of these organizations influenced the life of society as a whole. Market economy is the main theme of this book.
Third part: “Time of the world”
This volume is the third part of the famous trilogy written by Fernand Braudel. "Time of Peace" is a description of the entire world economic history. The author presents it as a series of dominance of various worlds-economies, which are united by a single rhythm of time. He analyzes the reasons for the ups and downs of these economies, and also sets out the main hypotheses that were proposed in the previous parts.