Arnold Joseph Toynbee

Arnold Joseph Toynbee (1889–1975) was a British historian and philosopher of history, best known for his multi-volume *A Study of History*. Educated at Balliol College, Oxford, he taught at King’s College London and later served as director of studies at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House). Toynbee worked for the British government during and after the First World War, including at the Paris Peace Conference. In *A Study of History* he compared the rise and decline of civilizations, arguing that societies respond creatively—or fail to respond—to challenges. He also wrote widely on international affairs and contemporary politics.