Book 3: Chapter 21, Current of Thought in the Nineteenth Century Summary and Analysis

The intellectual life of the nineteenth century concerned a larger area, including America, Russia and India. Science advanced and traditional systems of thought were rejected in politics and economics. The romantic revolt involved Byron, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, Marx, as well as was apparent in Mussolini and Hitler.

German intellectual influence started with Kant and Leibniz, who wrote in Latin or French with little German influence as such. The German position was determined by the Holy Roman Empire although the Emperor lost much of its control. Prussia was more politically dominant, although less advanced. Education was much more spread in Germany with various dominating influences such as that of Rome or France. Frederick the Great admired French philosophy and tried to encourage culture through establishing the Berlin...