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. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.