Step 1: Consider famous quotes about history and historiography.
The statement "History is the essence of innumerable biographies" emphasizes the role of great individuals in shaping historical events (the "Great Man" theory of history).
Step 2: Identify the author of this quote.
This quote is famously attributed to Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), a Scottish philosopher, satirical writer, essayist, historian, and teacher.
In his work "On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and The Heroic in History" (1841), he elaborated on the idea that history is shaped by the actions of "great men" or heroes.
The specific quote often appears as "The history of the world is but the biography of great men" or variations like the one given.
Step 3: Evaluate other historians/philosophers.
- (1) E.
H.
Carr: A British historian, journalist, and international relations theorist, known for "What Is History?" and "The Twenty Years' Crisis.
" He had a more complex view of history, emphasizing the interplay of individual and social forces, and the historian's role in interpretation.
- (3) Thucydides: An ancient Greek historian, author of the "History of the Peloponnesian War.
" Known for his analytical and evidence-based approach to history.
- (4) Herodotus: An ancient Greek historian, often called the "Father of History," author of "The Histories.
" Known for his inquiries into the Greco-Persian Wars.
Step 4: Confirm the author.
The quote "History is the essence of innumerable biographies" (or similar "History is the biography of great men") is strongly associated with Thomas Carlyle.
This matches option (2).