Introduction Bibliographical Note Part I: The Idealistic Theory of Historiography -- The Young Ranke's Vision of history and God (Excerpts from a letter to his brother Heinrich from Frankfurt/Oder End of March 1820) -- On the relations of history and philosophy (a manuscript of the 1830s) -- On the character of historical science (a manuscript of the 1830s) -- The pitfalls of a philosophy of history (a manuscript of the 1840s) -- On progress in history (From the first lecture to King Maximilian II of Bavaria "On the Epochs of Modem History"-1854) -- The role of the particular and the general in the study of universal history (a manuscript of the 1860s) Part II: The idealistic theory of historiography -- The Great Powers (1833) -- A dialogue on politics (1836) -- On the relation of and distinction between history and politics (1836) Part III: The prefaces -- Preface to the first edition of Histories of the Latin and Germanic nations (October 1824) -- Preface to History of the Popes (1834) -- Preface to History of France (1852) -- Preface to History of England (1859) -- Preface to Universal history (1880) -- Part IV: History of the Popes -- History of the Popes (1834).