How did the French Revolution influence the development of French archaeology and cultural heritage preservation?

The French Revolution, which began in 1789 and lasted for a decade, had a significant impact on French archaeology and cultural heritage preservation. Prior to the revolution, French cultural heritage was in the hands of the Catholic Church and the monarchy. The revolutionaries, who sought to dismantle the power structures of the Ancien Régime, viewed the Church and the monarchy as the embodiment of the old order and sought to secularize and democratize cultural heritage.

During the revolution, many religious institutions and aristocratic residences were destroyed or repurposed, and their treasures were seized. These confiscated treasures, along with newly discovered archaeological artifacts, were collected and housed in museums, such as the Louvre, which became accessible to the general public.

The revolution also gave rise to a new interest in the preservation of cultural heritage, which was viewed as a symbol of national identity. The newly formed National Convention recognized the importance of preserving historic monuments, and in 1790, it established the first French agency responsible for heritage preservation, the Commission des Monuments. The commission's main task was to identify and protect historic buildings and sites, as well as to organize excavations.

Overall, the French Revolution had a lasting impact on French archaeology and cultural heritage preservation. It led to the secularization and democratization of cultural heritage, the establishment of museums as public institutions, and the recognition of the importance of preserving historic monuments.