Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges

Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges was a French historian who pioneered the concept of historical objectivity.

Numa Denis Fustel de Coulanges (March 18, 1830, Paris – September 12, 1889, Massy); Historian. From 1860 to 1883, he taught history and medieval history at Strasbourg, Paris, École Normale Supérieure, and the Sorbonne.

He is considered one of the pioneers of academic scientific approaches to history and sociology. With his methodological work, he helped establish the modern concept of historical objectivity. His methods influenced sociologists such as Ferdinand Tönnies and Emile Durkheim, as well as many historians.

Major Works

• Le gouvernement de Charlemagne
• Les origines du régime féodal
• Comment le Druidisme a Disparu
• Questions contemporaines
• L’Organisation de la Justice dans l’antiquité et les temps modernes
• La Justice en France sous la monarchie absolue
• Recherches sur quelques problèmes d’histoire