Why were Latin inscriptions important to Theodor Mommsen’s research on Rome?

Latin inscriptions were essential to Theodor Mommsen’s research because they served as vital nonliterary source material that allowed him to reconstruct Roman history with unprecedented authority. While traditional historiography often relied on potentially biased or mythologized literary accounts, Mommsen utilized inscriptions and coins to provide a more objective, evidence-based understanding of the Roman world.1

His commitment to this methodology culminated in the creation of the Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum, a monumental, systematic collection of Latin inscriptions that remains a cornerstone of classical scholarship. This work enabled him to analyze aspects of Roman life and administration that were otherwise poorly documented. For instance, his ability to synthesize these diverse epigraphic records was crucial for his authoritative depiction of the Roman provinces during the first three centuries of the empire. By integrating these primary sources into his broader historical analysis, Mommsen moved beyond mere philology to create a rigorous, modern historical method that transformed the study of Rome.12