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The Rule of Laws

A 4000-year Quest to Order the World
3.63 goodreads logo

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( 218 ratings, 45 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Rule of Laws by Fernanda Pirie explores the extensive history and evolution of legal systems across different societies. It examines how laws have played a vital role in shaping cultures, influencing political structures, and governing social order throughout history. The book delves into various examples from ancient to modern times, offering a comprehensive overview of the dynamic nature of legal frameworks.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$4299
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the evolution and impact of legal systems throughout history. It delves into how different cultures have used laws to shape societies, providing a rich narrative on the link between legal frameworks and societal development. This intriguing exploration is perfect for readers interested in history, anthropology, and the power of law in human civilisation.

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From ancient Mesopotamia to today, the epic story of how humans have used laws to forge civilizations.

From ancient Mesopotamia to today, the epic story of how humans have used laws to forge civilizations

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

'A fascinating, comprehensive study that forces us to think again about what law is, and why it matters ... For those who want to understand why human society has emerged as it has, this is essential reading' - Rana Miller, author of China's Good War

The laws now enforced throughout the world are almost all modelled on systems developed in Europe in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. During two hundred years of colonial rule, Europeans exported their laws everywhere they could. But they weren't filling a void: in many places, they displaced traditions that were already ancient when Vasco Da Gama first arrived in India.

Where, then, did it all begin? And what has law been and done over the course of human history? In The Rule of Laws, pioneering anthropologist Fernanda Pirie traces the development of the world's great legal systems—Chinese, Indian, Roman, and Islamic—and the innumerable smaller traditions they inspired.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Rule of Laws has been praised for its comprehensive and gripping exploration of the history of legal systems, drawing on secular, sacred, and scholarly traditions. Reviewers have highlighted its ambitious approach and its potential to reshape our understanding of legal history and law's future impact. The book is noted for its rich, thought-provoking narrative that is both insightful and essential for understanding societal development.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781788163033

Publisher: Profile Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 August 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Profile Books Ltd

Edition: Main

Illustration: 16PP colour

Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 38.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 460g

Pages: 576

About the Author

Fernanda Pirie is professor of the anthropology of law at the University of Oxford. She is the author of The Anthropology of Law and has conducted fieldwork in the mountains of Ladakh and the grasslands of eastern Tibet. She previously spent almost a decade practising as a barrister.

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