Brockhaus

Brockhaus refers to a German encyclopedia line and the publishing house behind it. The imprint was founded by Friedrich Arnold Brockhaus (1772–1823) in the late 18th century, beginning with the publication of a Conversations-Lexikon in Altenburg. The project soon moved to Leipzig, where the Brockhaus imprint grew into a prominent German-language reference publisher and established a tradition of scholarly, compact to comprehensive encyclopedias.

The Brockhaus family publications include several well-known reference works. The Brockhaus Enzyklopädie (a general encyclopedia) has been produced in multiple editions and served as a standard reference in German-speaking households, schools, and libraries. Related titles have included smaller or more concise editions such as Der Kleine Brockhaus and larger compilations like Der Große Brockhaus, reflecting a range of depths and formats for different readers and uses. Collectively, these works cover topics across the humanities, sciences, and everyday knowledge, with articles written by editors and subject specialists in German.

Historically, Brockhaus occupied a central place in the German-speaking world’s culture of learning, competing with other major general encyclopedias and contributing to the standardization of German-language reference literature. The editorial approach emphasized careful research, cross-references, and reliable presentation of information.

In the modern era, Brockhaus has transitioned to digital formats alongside its traditional print editions. The brand has continued to provide online and digital reference resources, adapting to changes in how people access and use encyclopedic information while preserving its role as a longstanding German-language authority in general knowledge.