The volume provides a historical and systematic overview of key questions and problems in Western philosophy of history. The first part focuses on the development of historical-philosophical reflection in emerging historiography (Herodotus, Thucydides), in ancient philosophy (Plato, Aristotle), and in historical theology (Augustine). The second part brings to mind the unfolding of modern philosophy of history, starting from Vico and Rousseau through Enlightenment concepts of progress (Turgot, Condorcet) and the historical-philosophical designs of Kant and Fichte, culminating in two peaks with Hegel and Marx. During this phase, the philosophy of history takes on its classical form. Hegel's philosophy claims to recognize reason in history and to view the course of humanity as progress in the realization of freedom.