Ancient City. Greek and Roman City-States from the Beginning of Their History: Religious Beliefs, Family Structure, Social Institutions, and Rulers

The book by the famous French historian Fustel de Coulanges is dedicated to the history of ancient civilizations. The author begins his study with an exploration of the religion of the ancients. In his opinion, "beliefs about the soul and death" are the foundation of all customs, rituals, and the very way of life of ancient people. Analyzing the relationships between religion, laws, and social institutions, Coulanges concluded that all more or less significant changes in the social life of Greece and Rome were due to changes occurring in the realm of religious beliefs.