Historical Studies

The course will examine the main topics about European legal history, focusing on the sources of law, the development of legal science and the legal systems in Italy and in Europe between the Middle Ages and the modern age. The first part of the course will be dedicated to the medieval age and the main topics will be the following: - the Corpus juris civilis of Justinian; - the Germanic laws; - lordship and feud; - the renaissance of legal studies; - the Corpus iuris canonici; - the legal systems of medieval Italy; - the English common law system. The second part of the course will be dedicated to the modern age and the main topics will be the following: - the legal humanism; - the crisis of ius commune and the attempts to rationalize the law; - modern natural law and Enlightenment; - revolution and constitutions in America and France; - the codification of law in France and in Austria; the codification of law; - the constitutions of the Restoration period.

A basic knowledge of medieval and modern ages history is required.

P. Alvazzi Del Frate, M. Cavina, R. Ferrante, N. Sarti, S. Solimano, G. Speciale, E. Tavilla, Tempi del diritto. Età medievale, moderna, contemporanea, Terza edizione, Torino 2022, except chapters VII, VIII and IX. Alternatively, students can choose between the following options: 1) Medieval Legal History Mario Caravale, Ordinamenti giuridici dell’Europa medievale , Bologna, Il Mulino, 1994, except the following parts: - parte prima, cap. I, parr. 5-6, pp. 54-65; - parte prima, cap. IV, parr. 4-6, pp. 164-190; - parte prima, cap. V, parr. 4-7, pp. 206-227; - parte seconda, cap. IV, pp. 363-393; - parte seconda, cap. V, parr. 5-8, pp. 425-471; - parte seconda, cap. VI, par. 6, pp. 504-508; - parte seconda, cap. VII, par. 4, pp. 518-547; - parte seconda, cap. VIII, pp. 549-627; - parte seconda, cap. IX, parr. 2-4, pp. 631-647; - parte seconda, cap. X, pp. 649-706 2) Modern Legal History Mario Caravale, Storia del diritto nell’Europa moderna e contemporanea, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2012, except chapter VI.

The evaluation will be by oral exam at the end of the course. Attending students will be asked only questions on topics addressed during lessons. In order to pass the exam students will have to demonstrate that they have an adequate knowledge of the main issues related to the European legal history centuries between the early Middle Ages and the codification period of the 19th century. They also will have to be able to critically read the legal sources of medieval and modern age. To report a grade not lower than 18/30, students will have to demonstrate that they have acquired a sufficient knowledge of the subjects of the course. To achieve a score of 30/30 cum laude, students will have to demonstrate that they have acquired an excellent knowledge of all the topics covered during the course.

The course is based on lectures and seminars. Attendance is not mandatory.