Political history is what most people refer to simply as history. It is the statement of various historical facts, dates of events, names of rulers, battles, court intrigues, generals, kings, queens, presidents, revolutions, the explanation of these events and people, timelines, etc.. It is history with an emphasis on the state. The first "scientific" political history was written by Leopold von Ranke, who helped reify the concept of nation. His methodologies profoundly effected the way historians critically examine sources; see historiography for a more complete analysis of the methodology of various approaches to history.

Sometimes called Diplomatic History.