In the winter semester of 1824/25, Hegel delivered his second lecture on the philosophy of world history. Compared to the lecture from 1822/23, he introduced several new focal points. On one hand, he expanded the range of cultures discussed: before covering the main course of world history, he now provides extended discussions on Africa; in an appendix on China, he separately addresses the history and religion of the Mongols; he gives much more attention to the religion of Israel, Islam, and the circumstances surrounding the emergence of Christianity than he had before, and for the first time, he addresses the Byzantine Empire. On the other hand, he deepens his intellectual engagement with the historical material, such as by providing a stronger social-historical illumination of the history of the European Middle Ages and a more detailed presentation of modern history.
Simon Gros 
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