Arnold J. Toynbee (1889 – 1975) was a British historian and philosopher of history best known for A Study of History, a 12-volume analysis of civilizations. He examined their rise and fall, emphasizing the role of creative minorities in societal progress. Toynbee was a research professor at the London School of Economics and later became Director of Studies at Chatham House.
Born in London, he studied classics at Balliol College, Oxford. Early in his career, he worked at the British Foreign Office, contributing to wartime intelligence. He later played a role in the Paris Peace Conference (1919), shaping post-war treaties. His historical research spanned from ancient civilizations to modern global affairs.
Despite early acclaim, his theories later faced criticism for favoring myths and allegories over empirical data. Nevertheless, his work influenced comparative history and remains a reference in historical studies. He passed away in 1975, leaving a lasting impact on the study of civilizations.