Theodor Mommsen

Christian Matthias Theodor Mommsen (30 November 1817 - 1 November, 1903) was a German classical scholar and historian, generally regarded as the greatest classicist of the 19th century. His work regarding Roman history is still of fundamental importance for contemporary research.

Mommsen as politician

Mommsen was a delegate to the Prussian Landtag in 1863 - 1866 and again in 1873 - 1879, and delegate to the Reichstag in 1881 - 1884, at first for the liberal (German Progress Party (Deutsche Fortschrittspartei), later for the National Liberal Party (Nationalliberalen), and finally for the Secessionists. He was very concerned with questions regarding scientific and educational policies and held national positions. Disappointed with the politics of the empire, regarding whose future he was quite pessimistic, in the end he advised a collaboration between Liberals and Social Democrats.

Related Topics:
Prussia - Landtag - Reichstag - Liberal - German Progress Party - National Liberal Party

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Regarding social policies Mommsen had a disagreement with Bismarck in 1881, concerning the question, whether Jews could be Germans with equal rights, in 1879/80 with his colleague Heinrich von Treitschke (the so-called 'Berliner Antisemitismusstreit').

Related Topics:
Bismarck - Heinrich von Treitschke - Antisemitismus

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