William Robertson and the Expansion of Empire

William Robertson (1721–1793) was a leading historical figure of the eighteenth-century Enlightenment and one of the triumvirate of historians, along with David Hume and Edward Gibbon, who profoundly shaped the European consciousness. His great histories of Scotland, Europe, America and India represented a steadily expanding vision of European and world history. It was a ‘grand narrative’ comprising the emergence of Britain, the development of the European system of independent nation states, the growth of the European empire in the Americas, and the beginnings of the European empire in India. This book, William Robertson and the Expansion of Empire, contains contributions from a number of distinguished historians and literary scholars who explore aspects of Robertson’s intellectual achievements. However, particular attention is paid to Robertson’s treatment of the theme of empire and European expansion.

• Provides the first modern discussion of a distinguished early historian of Empire and European expansion • Makes important contributions to the history of Christianity during the era of Reformation and the beginnings of Christian missions • Lengthy bibliography will be an invaluable resource for scholars both of Robertson and of historical writing during the Enlightenment

List of contributors; Introduction Stewart J. Brown; 1. William Robertson (1721–1793) and the Scottish Enlightenment Stewart J. Brown; 2. Robertson’s letters and the life of writing Jeffrey Smitten; 3. Providence and progress: an introduction to the historical thought of William Robertson Nicholas Phillipson; 4. Robertson’s place in the development of eighteenth-century narrative history Karen O’Brien; 5. Robertsonian romanticism and realism Owen Dudley Edwards; 6. The ideological significance of Robertson’s History of Scotland Colin Kidd; 7. The reception of William Robertson’s historical writings in eighteenth-century France John Renwick; 8. Charles V and the book trade: an episode in Enlightenment print culture Richard B. Sher; 9. ‘From Savage to Scot’ via the French and Spaniards: Robertson’s principal Spanish sources Bruce P. Lenman; 10. Robertson and contemporary images of India Geoffrey Carnall; 11. A list of writings about William Robertson, 1755–1995 Jeffrey Smitten; Index.