<P> Voltaire recast historiography in both factual and analytical terms . Not only did he reject traditional biographies and accounts that claim the work of supernatural forces, but he went so far as to suggest that earlier historiography was rife with falsified evidence and required new investigations at the source . Such an outlook was not unique in that the scientific spirit that 18th - century intellectuals perceived themselves as invested with . A rationalistic approach was key to rewriting history . </P> <P> Voltaire's best - known histories are History of Charles XII (1731), The Age of Louis XIV (1751), and his Essay on the Customs and the Spirit of the Nations (1756). He broke from the tradition of narrating diplomatic and military events, and emphasized customs, social history and achievements in the arts and sciences . The Essay on Customs traced the progress of world civilization in a universal context, thereby rejecting both nationalism and the traditional Christian frame of reference . Influenced by Bossuet's Discourse on the Universal History (1682), he was the first scholar to make a serious attempt to write the history of the world, eliminating theological frameworks, and emphasizing economics, culture and political history . He treated Europe as a whole, rather than a collection of nations . He was the first to emphasize the debt of medieval culture to Middle Eastern civilization, but otherwise was weak on the Middle Ages . Although he repeatedly warned against political bias on the part of the historian, he did not miss many opportunities to expose the intolerance and frauds of the church over the ages . Voltaire advised scholars that anything contradicting the normal course of nature was not to be believed . Although he found evil in the historical record, he fervently believed reason and educating the illiterate masses would lead to progress . </P> <P> Voltaire explains his view of historiography in his article on "History" in Diderot's Encyclopédie: "One demands of modern historians more details, better ascertained facts, precise dates, more attention to customs, laws, mores, commerce, finance, agriculture, population ." Voltaire's histories imposed the values of the Enlightenment on the past, but at the same time he helped free historiography from antiquarianism, Eurocentrism, religious intolerance and a concentration on great men, diplomacy, and warfare . Yale professor Peter Gay says Voltaire wrote "very good history", citing his "scrupulous concern for truths", "careful sifting of evidence", "intelligent selection of what is important", "keen sense of drama", and "grasp of the fact that a whole civilization is a unit of study". </P> <P> From an early age, Voltaire displayed a talent for writing verse and his first published work was poetry . He wrote two book - long epic poems, including the first ever written in French, the Henriade, and later, The Maid of Orleans, besides many other smaller pieces . </P>

Whos name does l write in death note