This study of disputes and their settlement in twelfth-century Tuscany is more than just legal history.This book explores the mindsets of medieval Italians, and examines the legal framework which structured their society. Chris Wickham uncovers the interrelationships and collisions between different legal systems.
FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand NewThe twelfth century in Italy is seen as a period of major institutional and political changes: the origin of the communes, and of the Norman state in the south. It is also the period of the 'rediscovery' of Roman law and the fast development of canon law, both of which were spearheaded in Italy. But the exact content of these major shifts is considerably less clear. Arguably, the twelfth century in the north and centre of Italy was the period of the weakestpolitical structures in the whole period from 700 to the present; the early city states were uncertain entitiies for a long time, operating with very ad hoc procedures. But people had to live their livesin this framework nonetheless; one of the best sorts of evidence we have is records of court proceedings, which begin to survive above all in the second half of the century.This book looks at the world of the slowly crystallising city states through the experience of ordinary people disputing with each other: what remedies did they use? what strategies? I argue here that they used the developing patterns of the communes, and also those of law, entirely pragmatically,selecting the parts of them that fitted best with their own assumptions about how to act in public, which were not necessarily those of the theorists.The book focuses on three citiesin Tuscany: Lucca, Pisa, and Florence, and shows how people in each of these cities reacted differently to the social changes of the period. Throughout Tuscany, people - including judges -paid much attention to how violent public acts could legitimate public claims to rights, and were experts in the etiquette and meaning of such acts. Seen through this legal-anthropological analysis, the social history of the period looks very different.
Editor of Past and Present
1: Introduction2: Lucca: The Development of Judicial Procedures3: Lucca: Disputing Strategies4: Pisa: Roman Law in Practice5: Florence: Dispute Settlement outside the City6: Ecclesiastical Disputing in the Tuscan Diocese7: Rituals and Disputing in Twelfth-Century TuscanyAppendix: Sample CasesBibliographyIndex
`Review from other book by this author an important contribution to a continuing debate about social change in the eleventh and twelfth centuries.'Medium Aevum`a brilliant work of exceptional relevance, destined to hold an important place in future studies.'Historia Agraria`an important book, based upon solid scholarship.'American Historical Review`Wickham ... offers an acute discussion of previous scholarship on the subject and an extensive and updated bibliography. Particularly valuable is Wickham's concluding chapter.'Choice`A highly readable book, in English too, points us in some novel and promising directions.'The English Historical Review
An innovative approach to legal and cultural history
The twelfth century in Italy is seen as a period of major institutional and political changes: the origin of the communes, and of the Norman state in the south. It is also the period of the 'rediscovery' of Roman law and the fast development of canon law, both of which were spearheaded in Italy. But the exact content of these major shifts is considerably less clear. Arguably, the twelfth century in the north and centre of Italy was the period of the weakest
political structures in the whole period from 700 to the present; the early city states were uncertain entitiies for a long time, operating with very ad hoc procedures. But people had to live their lives
in this framework nonetheless; one of the best sorts of evidence we have is records of court proceedings, which begin to survive above all in the second half of the century.This book looks at the world of the slowly crystallising city states through the experience of ordinary people disputing with each other: what remedies did they use? what strategies? I argue here that they used the developing patterns of the communes, and also those of law, entirely pragmatically,
selecting the parts of them that fitted best with their own assumptions about how to act in public, which were not necessarily those of the theorists.The book focuses on three cities
in Tuscany: Lucca, Pisa, and Florence, and shows how people in each of these cities reacted differently to the social changes of the period. Throughout Tuscany, people - including judges -paid much attention to how violent public acts could legitimate public claims to rights, and were experts in the etiquette and meaning of such acts. Seen through this legal-anthropological analysis, the social history of the period looks very different.
`Review from other book by this author an important contribution to a continuing debate about social change in the eleventh and twelfth centuries.'
Medium Aevum
`a brilliant work of exceptional relevance, destined to hold an important place in future studies.'
Historia Agraria
`an important book, based upon solid scholarship.'
American Historical Review
`Wickham ... offers an acute discussion of previous scholarship on the subject and an extensive and updated bibliography. Particularly valuable is Wickham's concluding chapter.'
Choice
`A highly readable book, in English too, points us in some novel and promising directions.'
The English Historical Review
"Few historians are as knowledgeable about medieval Italy--and the Toscana in particular--as Chris Wickham, and one is, therefore, most grateful for the translation of this important work."--American Historical Review "A brilliant work of exceptional relevance, destined to hold an important place in future studies."--Historia Agraria "Wickham...offers an acute discussion of previous scholarship on the subject and an extensive and updated bibliography. Particularly valuable is Wickham's concluding chapter."--CHOICE
Significant contribution to our understanding of the medieval Italian city-state
Innovative approach to legal and cultural history
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