HISTORY OF LAW

The course aims to offer students an insight into the history of law and its major transformations, explored through both comparative and global perspectives, from medieval roots to contemporary developments.

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Concerning knowledge and understanding, by the end of the course students will be able to retrace the historical evolution of law – both private and public – within its comparative and global dimensions. This legal-historical background will enable students to identify the key periods of legal history and their distinctive features, thereby fostering a deeper awareness of the contemporary legal dimension – a crucial aspect for understanding the currents of change and the fundamental dynamics challenging today’s global law. A sound and thorough perception of the essential historicity of law will play a major role as a key conceptual framework for addressing the complexities of law in the XXI century. Concerning legal terminology and communication skills, by the end of the course students will be able to understand the historical basis of law and discuss legal concepts with appropriate terminology, which will prove valuable for the continuation of their academic studies. They will identify the historical roots of contemporary legal language and appreciate the importance of interpreting it in its original context, thus enhancing their command of modern legal vocabulary. Concerning autonomy and critical thinking, students will be able to read the various sources of law historically and to reflect on the deeper origins of legal norms. This education will prove useful for thinking critically about the legal problems of contemporary society, thus developing the logical and rhetorical skills needed to interpret new issues as they emerge.

The course follows a chronological approach, exploring the key stages in the evolution of legal history. It aims to provide a general overview of the main principles that shape medieval, modern, and contemporary law. For details on the lessons, please refer to the specific section.

1) T. Herzog, A Short History of European Law: The Last Two and a Half Millennia, Harvard University Press, 2018, pp. 47-254. 2) P. Grossi, A History of European Law, Chichester, Wiley-Blackwell, 2010, pp. 1-177.

The teaching methodology is based on lectures and in-class readings specifically designed to support student participation.

Final written exam, consisting in open-ended questions focused on the key topics covered in the course.

The assignment will be granted based on a keen interest in the subject, a robust understanding of the historical trajectory of European law, a solid knowledge of positive law, and a strong general culture background