Eduard Meyer facts for kids
Eduard Meyer (born January 25, 1855 – died August 31, 1930) was an important German historian. He was known for his deep knowledge of ancient history. His brother, Kuno Meyer, was also a famous scholar who studied Celtic languages.
A Life of Learning
Eduard Meyer was born in Hamburg, Germany. He went to a special school called the Gelehrtenschule des Johanneums. Later, he studied at the Universities of Bonn and Leipzig. After finishing his studies, he spent a year in Istanbul.
In 1879, he started teaching at the University of Leipzig. He became a professor of ancient history in different cities. First, he taught in Breslau in 1885. Then, he moved to Halle in 1889, and finally to Berlin in 1902.
Meyer also shared his knowledge in the United States. He gave lectures at Harvard in 1909 and at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1910. In that same year, he was chosen to be part of the American Philosophical Society. He also received special honorary degrees from famous universities like Oxford, St. Andrews, Freiburg, and Chicago.
He passed away in Berlin.
Discoveries in Ancient Egypt
In 1904, Eduard Meyer made an important discovery in Egyptology. He was the first to notice the Sothic cycle in ancient Egyptian records. This cycle is based on the star Sirius appearing in the sky at a certain time each year. This finding helped historians understand and set the timeline for ancient Egypt.
Important Books and Writings
Eduard Meyer wrote many books about history. His most famous work is called Geschichte des Altertums, which means "History of Antiquity." It was published in several parts between 1884 and 1902.
He also wrote other significant books, including:
- Forschungen zur alten Geschichte (1892–1899) – This book was about his research into ancient history.
- Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der Gracchen (1894) – This explored the history of the Gracchi brothers in ancient Rome.
- Wirtschaftliche Entwicklung des Altertums (1895) – This discussed how the economy developed in the ancient world.
- Die Entstehung des Judentums (1896) – This looked at the origins of Judaism.
- Israeliten und ihre Nachbarstämme (1906) – This was about the Israelites and the tribes living near them.
- Ursprung und Geschichte der Mormonen (1912) – This covered the beginning and history of the Mormons.
Some of his writings were also translated into English:
- "Alexander the Great and Universal Monarchy," which appeared in The International Quarterly in 1903.
- England; its Political Organization and Development and the War Against Germany (1916).
Meyer also contributed to major reference books. He wrote parts for the Encyclopaedia Biblica (1903) and the famous 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. He also helped with sections of The Historians' History of the World.
