Topics in European Legal History

Catalog description

This is an independent study/reading course that explores such core topics in European legal history as (1) the Roman-canon law tradition; (2) the history of constitutionalism (16th-century to present); (3) the rise of modern natural law and codification; (4) absolutism and the rise of the centralized, administrative state; and (5) Enlightenment and revolution.We will meet once per week to discuss readings. Students who wish to take the course for 2 units have the option of also writing four response papers to the readings (as detailed above).