Mommsen, Theodor (tāˈōdōr mômˈsən) [key], 1817–1903, German
historian. Appointed (1848) professor of civil law at the Univ.
of Leipzig, he supported the Revolution of 1848 and lost his
chair because of his political opinions. He subsequently taught
Roman law at Zürich and Breslau and, from 1858, ancient history
at the Univ. of Berlin. After the unification (1870) of Germany
he came to publicly oppose the policies of Bismarck. His
greatest work is his History of Rome (3 vol., 1854–56; several
English translations), a classic of historical writing. The
fourth volume was never completed, but the fifth appeared in
1885. Mommsen's work, an unmatched re-creation of Roman society
and culture, is based largely on his study of ancient coins,
inscriptions, and literature. His liberal politics prejudiced
his view of ancient history; his German contemporaries are
clearly visible on his Roman scene. Although a great admirer of
Caesar, he vigorously denounced Caesarism. Mommsen also wrote
authoritatively on Roman law, nota