This Element is free online from 2nd February 2026 – 16th February 2026

The purpose of this Element is to introduce the study of later Roman law (Byzantine law) to a wider academic audience. Currently a great deal of specialized knowledge is necessary to approach the field of Byzantine law. This Element works to break down the barriers to this fascinating subject by providing a brief, clear introduction to the topic. It makes a scholarly contribution by placing Byzantine law in a broader perspective and by reconsidering some of the aspects of the study of Byzantine law. The Element places Byzantine law outside of the box by comparing, for example, Byzantine law to the European legal tradition and highlighting the role that Byzantine law can have in unravelling the common legal past of Europe. It gives also information on the status of Byzantine legal studies and makes suggestions on how to study Byzantine law and why.

Accès : ici

Daphne Penna, University of Groningen and KU Leuven

Informations pratiques :

Daphne Penna, Byzantine Law. The Law of the Eastern Roman Empire, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2026 ; 1 vol., 75 p. (Elements in Rethinking Byzantium). ISBN : 978-1-00969-607-4.

Source : Cambridge University Press