The Ancient City: A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome

About the Author

Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges

Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges (1830-1889) was one of France's most influential historians of the 19th century, whose methodological innovations and penetrating analysis of ancient societies continue to influence historical research. Born in Paris to a naval officer, Fustel displayed exceptional academic talent from a young age. After graduating from the prestigious École Normale Supérieure in 1853, he taught at several lycées before defending his Latin and French doctoral theses in 1858. His academic career took him first to the University of Strasbourg, where he taught from 1860 to 1870, and later to the Sorbonne in Paris, where he eventually became director of the École Normale Supérieure in 1880. Fustel's approach to historical research was revolutionary for his time. He insisted on the careful study of primary sources, skepticism toward traditional narratives, and understanding historical societies on their own terms rather than through contemporary perspectives. His methodology emphasized that institutions could only be understood by examining the beliefs and ideas that gave rise to them, a principle most fully realized in his masterpiece, 'La Cité antique' (The Ancient City), published in 1864. This work transformed the understanding of classical antiquity by demonstrating the central role of religion in shaping every aspect of Greek and Roman society, from family structure to political institutions. Despite its complex scholarly content, the book's clear prose and compelling thesis made it accessible to general readers and ensured its lasting influence. Though best known for 'The Ancient City,' Fustel produced numerous other significant works, including his multi-volume 'Histoire des institutions politiques de l'ancienne France' (History of the Political Institutions of Ancient France), which applied similar methodological principles to early French history. This later work generated more controversy, particularly his arguments about the limited influence of Germanic invasions on Gallo-Roman institutions, but demonstrated his consistent emphasis on religious and legal continuity in understanding institutional development. Fustel's career coincided with a period of intense nationalism following France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, which saw the loss of Alsace and part of Lorraine to Germany. Though his scholarly integrity prevented him from simply producing nationalist propaganda, his work on French institutional history did reflect a desire to assert the distinctive character of French civilization against German scholarly claims. Despite recurring health problems throughout his life, Fustel maintained a rigorous schedule of research, writing, and teaching until his death in 1889. His legacy lies not only in his specific historical insights but in his methodological innovations that helped establish history as a rigorous, source-based discipline distinct from literature or philosophy. His insistence on understanding past societies in their own cultural context rather than judging them by contemporary standards remains a fundamental principle of historical scholarship.