Fernand Braudel

Pioneering French historian of the Annales School, focusing on long-term socioeconomic structures.

Chronology: 1902-08-24 – 1985-11-27

Origins & Early Life

Fernand Paul Achille Braudel (French: [fɛʁnɑ̃ bʁodɛl]; 24 August 1902 – 27 November 1985) was a French historian. His scholarship focused on three main projects: The Mediterranean (1923–49, then 1949–66), Civilization and Capitalism (1955–79), and the unfinished Identity of France (1970–85). He was a member of the Annales School of French historiography and social history in the 1950s and 1960s. Braudel emphasized the role of large-scale socioeconomic factors in the making and writing of history.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In a 2011 poll by History Today magazine, he was named the most important historian of the previous 60 years. == Education == Braudel was born in Luméville-en-Ornois in the département of the Meuse, France. He grew up in a pre-industrial rural setting with his grandmother until at the age of seven he joined his father in Paris. His father, a mathematics teacher, aided him in his studies. His maternal grandfather had been a Communard, and Braudel was reluctant to mention this side of his family.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Braudel was educated at the Lycée Voltaire (1913-1920), where he studied Latin and Greek, and at the Sorbonne, where he was taught by Henri Hauser and gained an agrégation in history in 1923. He taught...

Source: Wikipedia