In 1807, inspired by his study of
Dante, he published his first work
Abélard und Dulcin, a defence of
scholasticism and
medieval thought. Two years later biographical studies of
Theodore Beza and
Peter Martyr Vermili (
Leben des Theodor de Bela und des Peter Martyr Vermili, Heidelberg, 1809) revealed more great scholarship. In 1812 his
History of the Iconoclastic Emperors of the East (
Geschichte der bilderstürmenden Kaiser des oströmischen Reichs) was published, in which he contradicted some points in
Edward Gibbon's highly opinionated work and sought to avoid painting the past in present-day colours. It won him the favour of Archbishop
Karl Theodor Dalberg and secured him a Professorship in the
Frankfurt Lyceum. In 1815 the first volume of his
World History (
Weltgeschichte in zusammenhängender Erzählung) was published. This work, though never completed, extended through many volumes, bespeaking an inexhaustible energy and a vast erudition. A translation of the pedagogical handbook of
Vincent of Beauvais and the accompanying monograph are still considered of value. The next noteworthy work was a history of antiquity and its culture (
Universalhistorische Übersicht der Geschichte der alten Welt und ihrer Kultur, 1st part, 1826; 2nd part, 1834), which, while revealing little knowledge of the new criticism of sources inaugurated by
F.A. Wolf and
B.G. Niebuhr, won its way by its unique handling of the subject and its grand style. In 1823 he published in two volumes a
Geschichte des 18ten Jahrhunderts. This work, enlarged and improved, appeared in six volumes as
Geschichte des 18ten Jahrhunderts und des 19ten bis zum Sturz des französischen Kaiserreichs (1836–1848). The history had a most extraordinary success, especially among the common people, since the author boldly and sternly sat in judgment upon men and events, and in his judgments voiced the feelings of the German nation in his day. It has been translated into English by D. Davison (8 vols, 1843–1852). Finally, Schlosser undertook a popular
World History for the German People (
Weltgeschichte für das deutsche Volk, 1844–1857), which also enjoyed the favour of those for whom it was written. He left Frankfurt in 1819 to become professor of history at
Heidelberg where he resided until his death. He was an elected member of the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences of Copenhagen, and of the Society of Literature of
Leyden and other learned societies.
Works in English translation •
History of the Eighteenth Century and of the Nineteenth Century Till the Overthrow of the French Empire, volumes 1–8, Chapman and Hall. London, 1843–1852. ==Criticism==