Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Which of the following developments in History writing introduced a critical examination of the primary sources?

Correct option is C

The Berlin Revolution in History Writing refers to the methodological shift in the 19th century led by historians like Leopold von Ranke in Germany, especially associated with the University of Berlin. It was during this phase that history writing became a scientific discipline, heavily based on critical examination of primary sources. Von Ranke insisted that historians should "show what actually happened" ("wie es eigentlich gewesen"), using primary documents like letters, official records, and archival material, treated with rigorous source criticism. Thus, it is the Berlin Revolution that first formally introduced and institutionalized critical source examination in history writing, not Renaissance historiography. Renaissance historiography, although it revived interest in classical antiquity and emphasized humanistic values, did not systematize critical source analysis like Ranke’s scientific methods did.

Information Booster

Berlin Revolution in History Writing: Associated with the 19th-century German historians. Especially led by Leopold von Ranke, considered the father of modern objective history. Emphasis was placed on:
Critical analysis of primary sources.
Writing objective history without personal bias.
Development of scientific history using archival research.
This methodological revolution professionalized the study of history, establishing it as an academic discipline.

Additional knowledge:

Church Historiography: Medieval Church historiography was theological and narrative, not critical. Histories were written to support religious doctrines rather than critically examine evidence.
Renaissance Historiography: Renaissance thinkers like Petrarch and Machiavelli emphasized humanism and revived classical history, but systematic critical examination of primary sources had not fully developed.
Roman Historiography: Roman historians like Livy and Tacitus focused on storytelling and moral lessons. Although some Roman historians referred to earlier records, critical method and source analysis were not systematically applied.