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

First published in French in 1864, this groundbreaking work by Fustel de Coulanges is a seminal study of the origins of Greek and Roman civilization, focusing on the role of religion, law, and social institutions in shaping their cultures. Coulanges argues that the ancient city was a religious community, in which the worship of the gods was at the center of social life and gave rise to distinctive legal and political systems. This translated edition, with a new introduction by historian Willard Small, is an essential reading for anyone interested in the history of classical civilization.