The Cambridge Comparative History of Ancient Law

The first comparative history of ancient law written collaboratively by an international team of ancient historians and legal experts.

Caroline Humfress (Edited by), David Ibbetson (Edited by), Patrick Olivelle (Edited by)

9781107035164, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 30 May 2024

744 pages
23.5 x 16.1 x 4.2 cm, 1.16 kg

''The Cambridge Comparative History of Ancient Law' is a wonderful book. Its very great strengths derive from its unusual history of composition, and the book is at its best when, in one way or another, writers actualize the volume's aspirations most sharply. It is never less than exciting and informative, and the patient collaboration among experts in different fields to which it testifies should be a model for future projects of this kind.' Clifford Ando, Comparative Legal History

The Cambridge Comparative History of Ancient Law is the first of its kind in the field of comparative ancient legal history. Written collaboratively by a dedicated team of international experts, each chapter offers a new framing and understanding of key legal concepts, practices and historical contexts across five major legal traditions of the ancient world. Stretching chronologically across more than three and a half millennia, from the earliest, very fragmentary, proto-cuneiform tablets (3200–3000 BCE) to the Tang Code of 652 CE, the volume challenges earlier comparative histories of ancient law / societies, at the same time as opening up new areas for future scholarship across a wealth of surviving ancient Near Eastern, Indian, Chinese, Greek and Roman primary source evidence. Topics covered include 'law as text', legal science, inter-polity relations, law and the state, law and religion, legal procedure, personal status and the family, crime, property and contract.

1. Orientation David Ibbetson
2. Law as text Michael Gagarin, Ernest Caldwell, David Ibbetson, Timothy Lubin, Geoffrey MacCormack, Joseph Manning and Martha T. Roth
3. Legal science Dario Mantovani, Ernest Caldwell, Sophie Demare-Lafont, Caroline Humfress, David Ibbetson, Geoffrey MacCormack, Patrick Olivelle, Robin Osborne, William Tooman, and Bruce Wells
4. War, peace and interstate relations Katelijn Vandorpe, Sophie Démare-Lafont, Geoffrey MacCormack, Mark McClish, Patrick Olivelle and Nicolas Wiater
5. Law and the state Mark McClish, Ari Bryen, Sophie Demare-Lafont, Geoffrey MacCormack and Robin Osborne
6. Law and religion Bruce Wells, Noah Bickart, Donald Davis, Edward Harris, Caroline Humfress, Geoffrey MacCormack, Robin Osborne and Katelijn Vandorpe
7. Legal procedure Patrick Olivelle, Michael Gagarin, Caroline Humfress, Geoffrey MacCormack, Joseph Manning and Bruce Wells
8. Status and family Timothy Lubin, Ari Bryen, Sophie Démare-Lafont, Michael Gagarin, Caroline Humfress, Geoffrey MacCormack and Joseph Manning
9. Crime, redress, and social control Ari Z. Bryen, Timothy Lubin, Geoffrey MacCormack and Robin Osborne
10. Property Joseph G. Manning, Edward Harris, David Ibbetson, Timothy Lubin and Geoffrey MacCormack
11. Commerce and contracts David Ibbetson, Ernest Caldwell, Edward Harris, Geoffrey MacCormack, Joe Manning and Patrick Olivelle
12. Conclusion Caroline Humfress.

Subject Areas: Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]