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2024-09-22 08:20:01

Arnold J. Toynbee

English historian and philosopher of history
English historian and philosopher of history

Arnold J. Toynbee was a renowned English historian and philosopher of history, known for his 12-volume A Study of History. He was a prolific author and research professor at London School of Economics.

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1852-08-23
Birth of Arnold Toynbee

Arnold Toynbee, an English economist and social reformer, was born in London, England on August 23, 1852. He later became known for his public service activities on behalf of the working class.

1878
Graduation from Balliol College

In 1878, Arnold Toynbee graduated from Balliol College, Oxford. He later went on to become a tutor at Balliol College, where his lectures on the economic history of the Industrial Revolution in Britain had a significant impact.

1883-03-09
Death of Arnold Toynbee

Arnold Toynbee, the English economist and social reformer, passed away in Wimbledon on March 9, 1883. He was noted for his contributions to economic history and social reform efforts.

1884
Toynbee Hall established in Whitechapel

Toynbee Hall was established in the poor working-class district of Whitechapel in East London as a pioneering social settlement. It was founded in 1884 to provide housing and libraries for the growing numbers of poor in Britain.

1889-04-14
Birth of Arnold Joseph Toynbee

Arnold Joseph Toynbee, a renowned historian and philosopher known for his work on civilization and the philosophy of history, was born in London, England.

1912
Election as Fellow at Balliol College, Oxford

Arnold J. Toynbee was elected a fellow at Balliol College, Oxford, and appointed as a tutor in ancient history. His interests in Greek and Roman civilization, as well as classical archaeology, set him apart from other British classical scholars of his time.

1913
Marriage to Rosalind Murray

Arnold J. Toynbee married Rosalind Murray, daughter of Gilbert Murray, in 1913.

1915
Investigation of Zionism at the Information Department of the Foreign Office

In 1915, Arnold J. Toynbee investigated Zionism at the Information Department of the Foreign Office and later published a memorandum supporting exclusive Jewish political rights in Ottoman Palestine.

1916
The New Europe: Essays in Reconstruction

In Chapter IV of his book, Toynbee criticized the concept of natural borders and proposed alternatives such as free trade, partnership, and cooperation between countries.

1917
The Belgian Deportations

Toynbee addressed 'The Belgian Deportations' in 1917, accompanied by a statement by Viscount Bryce, shedding light on the deportations carried out by the Germans in Belgium.

1919
Delegate to Paris Peace Conference

Arnold J. Toynbee served as a delegate to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. He played a minor role in shaping the Treaty of Sèvres and was present at the meeting where the idea of forming an Institute of International Affairs was proposed.

1920
Plebiscite in Schleswig

A plebiscite was held in Schleswig in 1920 to determine its future fate, with the proposal of a linguistic line as the new German-Danish border.

1921-09-17
Inception of 'A Study of History'

Arnold Toynbee began working on his monumental work 'A Study of History' on September 17, 1921, while traveling on the Orient Express. The idea for the 3½-million word, 12-volume series came to him during a train journey from Istanbul to Nish, where he was inspired by the scenery and history of the region.

1922
Commencement of Toynbee's Study of History

In 1922, Arnold J. Toynbee began his Study of History after being inspired by Bulgarian peasants wearing fox-skin caps similar to those described by Herodotus as the headgear of Xerxes’ troops. This event marked the beginning of Toynbee's in-depth examination of the rise and fall of civilizations throughout human history.

1924
Resignation from Koraes Chair

Toynbee was forced to resign from the Koraes Chair of Modern Greek and Byzantine History at King's College, University of London in 1924 due to his accusations against Greece's military government in occupied Turkish territory.

1925
Appointment as Research Professor

Arnold J. Toynbee became the Research Professor of International History at the London School of Economics in 1925.

1929
Director of Studies at Chatham House

In 1929, Arnold J. Toynbee was appointed as the Director of Studies at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), a position he held until 1956.

1934
Publication of A Study of History Vol I

Arnold J. Toynbee's 12-volume universal history, A Study of History, began with the publication of Volume I in 1934. This volume focused on the introduction and the genesis of civilizations.

1936
Meeting with Adolf Hitler

Arnold J. Toynbee had a private interview with Adolf Hitler in Berlin in 1936, where Hitler expressed his limited expansionist aims and desire for British understanding and cooperation with Nazi Germany. Toynbee believed Hitler was sincere and endorsed his message in a confidential memorandum for the British prime minister and foreign secretary.

1937
Election as Fellow of the British Academy

Arnold J. Toynbee was elected a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA) in 1937, the UK's national academy for the humanities and social sciences.

1939
Toynbee's view on the challenge of creating a political and economic world order

In 1939, Toynbee expressed his belief in the challenge faced by Modern Western society to establish a political and economic world order.

1941
International Member of American Philosophical Society

In 1941, Arnold J. Toynbee was elected as an International Member of the American Philosophical Society.

1946
Toynbee's Views on Judaism and Zionism

Toynbee's views on Judaism and Zionism have been controversial, with some accusing him of disparaging Jews and Judaism. He believed that Judaism was defined by fanaticism, provincialism, and exclusivity, and viewed Zionism as similar to Nazism.

1947
Arnold J. Toynbee appears on the cover of Time magazine

In 1947, Arnold J. Toynbee appeared on the cover of Time magazine, with an article praising his work as 'the most provocative work of historical theory written in England since Karl Marx's Capital'. This recognition boosted his reputation and brought attention to his theories.

1948
Publication of Civilization on Trial

In 1948, Arnold J. Toynbee published 'Civilization on Trial', a work that delves into the challenges and trials faced by civilizations throughout history. This publication added to Toynbee's extensive body of work on the subject of civilizations.

1949
International Honorary Member of American Academy of Arts and Sciences

Arnold J. Toynbee became an International Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1949.

1952
Toynbee's view on Soviet Union and Cold War

In 1952, Arnold J. Toynbee argued that the Soviet Union had been a victim of Western aggression. He viewed the Cold War as a religious competition between Marxist materialism and the West's spiritual Christian heritage, which he believed had been foolishly rejected by a secularized West. His views sparked a heated debate and criticism.

1953
Ernst Robert Curtius follows Arnold J. Toynbee's theory in European Literature and the Latin Middle Ages

In 1953, Ernst Robert Curtius, influenced by Arnold J. Toynbee's overall theory, incorporated similar ideas in his work 'European Literature and the Latin Middle Ages'. He viewed cultures and historical entities through a comparative morphology approach.

1955
Toynbee and History: Critical Essays and Reviews

Social scientist Ashley Montagu assembled 29 other historians' articles to form a symposium on Toynbee's A Study of History, published as Toynbee and History: Critical Essays and Reviews. The book includes three of Toynbee's own essays.

1956
Critical Essays on Toynbee and History

Ashley M. F. Montagu edited the book 'Toynbee and History: Critical Essays and Reviews' in 1956, which contains insightful essays and reviews on Arnold J. Toynbee's work.

1957
A Study of History: Abridgement of Vols VII–X

An abridged version of volumes VII to X of 'A Study of History', published by Oxford University Press in 1957.

1958
Release of East to West: A Journey Round the World

In 1958, Arnold J. Toynbee released 'East to West: A Journey Round the World', a publication that documented his travels and observations across different civilizations. This work contributed to his exploration of global history and cultural interactions.

1959
Publication of Hellenism: The History of a Civilization

In 1959, Arnold J. Toynbee published 'Hellenism: The History of a Civilization', a significant work that focused on the history and impact of Hellenistic civilization. This publication added to Toynbee's scholarly contributions on ancient civilizations.

1960
Decline of Arnold J. Toynbee's Academic Reputation

After 1960, Arnold J. Toynbee's ideas and approach to history faced skepticism from mainstream historians, leading to a decline in his academic reputation. His style of civilizational analysis, which some thought emphasized the divine too much, was seldom cited in academia and the media.

1961-01
Toynbee's Debate with Yaakov Herzog

In January 1961, Arnold J. Toynbee engaged in a debate with Yaakov Herzog, the Israeli ambassador to Canada. This debate led Toynbee to revise his views and urge Israel to play a role in preventing nuclear war.

1967
Editor, Cities of Destiny

Arnold J. Toynbee served as an editor for the book 'Cities of Destiny' published by Thames & Hudson in 1967.

1968
Editor and principal contributor, Man's Concern with Death

Arnold J. Toynbee was the editor and main contributor for the book 'Man's Concern with Death' published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1968.

1969
Editor, The Crucible of Christianity: Judaism, Hellenism and the Historical Background to the Christian Faith

Arnold J. Toynbee was the editor of the book 'The Crucible of Christianity: Judaism, Hellenism and the Historical Background to the Christian Faith' published by Thames & Hudson in 1969.

1970
Cities on the Move

A book titled 'Cities on the Move' published by Oxford University Press in 1970, sponsored by the Institute of Urban Environment of the School of Architecture, Columbia University.

1971
Surviving the Future

A book titled 'Surviving the Future' published by Oxford University Press in 1971, which is a rewritten version of a dialogue between Arnold J. Toynbee and Professor Kei Wakaizumi of Kyoto Sangyo University.

1972
Meeting between Arnold J. Toynbee and Daisaku Ikeda

In 1972, Arnold J. Toynbee met with Daisaku Ikeda, the president of Soka Gakkai International, to discuss the threat of the atomic bomb and its impact on humanity. Their discussions led to the publication of Choose Life.

1973
Editor, Half the World: The History and Culture of China and Japan

Arnold J. Toynbee served as an editor for the book 'Half the World: The History and Culture of China and Japan' published by Thames & Hudson in 1973.

1974
Toynbee on Toynbee: A Conversation between Arnold J. Toynbee and G. R. Urban

A conversation book titled 'Toynbee on Toynbee' between Arnold J. Toynbee and G. R. Urban, published by New York, Oxford University Press in 1974.

1975-10-22
Death of Arnold Joseph Toynbee

Arnold Joseph Toynbee, a prominent figure in the study of civilization and cyclicism, passed away at the age of 86 in York, North Yorkshire.

1975-10-23
Death of Arnold Toynbee

Arnold Toynbee, the historian known for his work on the rise and fall of civilizations, passed away at the age of 86 in a nursing home in York, England. He had been incapacitated for the last 14 months due to a stroke. Toynbee's most famous work, 'A Study of History,' was a 12-volume series that took 40 years to complete.

1976
Mankind and Mother Earth: A Narrative History of the World

A posthumous book titled 'Mankind and Mother Earth: A Narrative History of the World' by Arnold J. Toynbee, published by Oxford University Press in 1976.

1978
Arnold Toynbee: A Selection from His Works

A posthumous selection of works by Arnold J. Toynbee, with an introduction by E. W. F. Tomlin, published by Oxford University Press in 1978.

1981
The Greeks and Their Heritages

A posthumous book titled 'The Greeks and Their Heritages' by Arnold J. Toynbee, published by Oxford University Press in 1981.

1984
Criticism of Arnold J. Toynbee's dialogue with Daisaku Ikeda

In 1984, Arnold J. Toynbee faced criticism, particularly from his granddaughter Polly Toynbee, for accepting money for his interviews with Daisaku Ikeda. The dialogue was seen as controversial and criticized for Ikeda's appropriation of Toynbee's memories.

1987
Chartering of Toynbee Prize Foundation

The Toynbee Prize Foundation was chartered in 1987 with the aim of contributing to the development of the social sciences from a broad historical perspective.

1989
Arnold J. Toynbee: a life

William H. McNeill's scholarly biography on Arnold J. Toynbee.

1993
Comparison of Toynbee with Other Historians

Costello's book 'World Historians and Their Goals' published in 1993 compares Arnold J. Toynbee with prominent historians such as H. G. Wells, Oswald Spengler, and others in the context of twentieth-century answers to modernism.

1995
Thinkers of the Twenty Years' Crisis: Inter-War Idealism Reassessed

A book edited by David Long and Peter Wilson that discusses Arnold Toynbee's research in a global context during the inter-war period.

1996
Arnold Toynbee and the Western Tradition

Marvin Perry's work that explores Arnold Toynbee's relationship with the Western tradition.

1997
Revival of Interest in Toynbee's Ideas with The Clash of Civilizations

Interest in Arnold J. Toynbee's ideas revived in 1997 with the publication of 'The Clash of Civilizations' by Samuel P. Huntington. Huntington's view of human history as the history of civilizations resonated with Toynbee's approach, leading to a renewed interest in Toynbee's work.

1999
Arnold Toynbee: Pro-Arab or Pro-Zionist?

Isaiah Friedman's article in Israel Studies that explores Arnold Toynbee's stance on Arab-Zionist relations.

2000-06
The Impact of the 1917 Russian Revolutions on Arnold J. Toynbee's Historical Thought, 1917–34

Gabriel B. Paquette's article in Revolutionary Russia analyzing the influence of the 1917 Russian Revolutions on Arnold J. Toynbee's historical ideas during the period of 1917-1934.

2004-09
The Origins of World History: Arnold Toynbee before the First World War

Gordon Martel's article in the Australian Journal of Politics and History that delves into Arnold Toynbee's early contributions to world history before World War I.

2011-12
Globalization and Global History in Toynbee

Michael Lang's article in the Journal of World History discussing globalization and global history in relation to Arnold Toynbee's work.

2014
'A belated return for Christ?': the reception of Arnold J. Toynbee's A Study of History in a British context, 1934–1961

Alexander Hutton's study in the European Review of History that examines the reception of Arnold J. Toynbee's work in a British context during the specified period.

2017
Establishment of Toynbee Prize

The Toynbee Prize was established in 2017 by the Toynbee Prize Foundation to recognize significant contributions to the field of social sciences and global history.

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Arnold J. Toynbee
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