International Law in Europe, 700-1200 - (Artes Liberales) by Jenny Benham (Paperback)

About the Book

Was there international law in the Middle Ages? This book examines the extent to which such a system of rules was known and followed in the period 700 to 1200. Taking treaties as its main source, it challenges traditional interpretations of the history of international law and how it functioned in a period before fully fledged nation states.

Book Synopsis

Was there international law in the Middle Ages? Using treaties as its main source, this book examines the extent to which such a system of rules was known and followed in the period 700 to 1200. It considers how consistently international legal rules were obeyed, whether there was a reliance on justification of action and whether the system had the capacity to resolve disputed questions of fact and law. The book further sheds light on issues such as compliance, enforcement, deterrence, authority and jurisdiction, challenging traditional ideas over their role and function in the history of international law.

International law in Europe, 700-1200 will appeal to students and scholars of medieval Europe, international law and its history, as well as those with a more general interest in warfare, diplomacy and international relations.

From the Back Cover

Was there such a thing as international law in the Middle Ages? Using treaties as its main source, this book examines the extent to which such a system of rules was known and followed in Europe during the period from 700 to 1200.

The book considers how consistently international legal rules were obeyed, whether there was a reliance on justification of action and whether the system had the capacity to resolve disputed questions of fact and law. It finds that a recognisable framework for international law did exist, while shedding new light on issues such as compliance, enforcement, deterrence, authority, and jurisdiction, and challenging traditional ideas about their role and function in the history of international law.

International law in Europe, 700-1200 makes a leap forward in thinking about how rulers, communities, and political entities conducted diplomacy and regulated their interactions in a period before fully fledged nation states. It will appeal to students and scholars of medieval Europe, international law and its history, as well as those with a more general interest in warfare, diplomacy, and international relations.

About the Author

Jenny Benham is Senior Lecturer in Medieval History at Cardiff University