The publication of "Sacrifice: Its Nature and Function" in 1899 established the early intellectual partnership between Henri Hubert and Marcel Mauss, marking a significant development in the study of religious sociology within France. Hubert, an academic whose career spanned archaeology and classical scholarship, navigated the shifting institutional landscapes of Parisian higher education during the early twentieth century.
Academic Formation and Early Research
Born in 1872 in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, Hubert was educated at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand before advancing to the École Normale Supérieure. His initial academic focus centered on the study of the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Byzantine Empire, and historical iconoclasm. In 1895, he passed the agrégation in history. His doctoral studies concentrated on pre-Christian religious practices within Asia Minor, demonstrating his early interest in the intersection of historical and religious analysis.
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Hubert prioritised research over traditional pedagogical roles following his graduation. In 1898, he accepted a position at the École pratique des hautes études and simultaneously began working at the National Archaeological Museum. During this same year, he entered into a collaborative relationship with Émile Durkheim and Marcel Mauss, contributing to the Année Sociologique. He assumed responsibility for the section dedicated to the sociology of religion, producing foundational texts on magic and sacrifice.
Studies in Celtic and Germanic Civilisation
Throughout the early twentieth century, Hubert expanded his research to include the ethnographic prehistory of Europe, lecturing at the École du Louvre. His scholarship resulted in major works on Celtic history, such as The Rise of the Celts and The Greatness and Decline of the Celts. He also authored the Essay on Time, which examined representations of temporality in magic and religion. His late lectures on Germanic peoples were compiled and published posthumously in 1952 as Les Germains.
Fast facts
- Born: 1872, 6th arrondissement of Paris
- Died: 1927, Chatou
- Education: Lycée Louis-le-Grand and École Normale Supérieure
- Key Employers: École pratique des hautes études, National Archaeological Museum, École du Louvre
- Honours: Knight of the Legion of Honour
- Affiliations: Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities
Questions readers ask
What was the nature of Henri Hubert's collaboration with Marcel Mauss?
They co-authored seminal works in the sociology of religion, specifically the 1899 study on the nature and function of sacrifice and the 1904 Outline of a General Theory of Magic.
Which major historical groups were the focus of Hubert's later research?
He focused primarily on Celtic and Germanic history, producing significant monographs that explored their culture, expansion, and civilisation.
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour
- Held posts at École pratique des hautes études, National Archaeological Museum and École du Louvre
- Fields: sociology of religion
