From the department of Historical Regimes of Normativity at the Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory

What were Our Chinese Colleagues Writing in 2025?
If China can no longer be bypassed, then perhaps the first thing to do, once we stop walking past it, is to look at it directly.

Epifanio de Moirans (1644–1689): An Abolitionist Ahead of His Time?
The Capuchin missionary Epifanio de Moirans is widely regarded as an abolitionist ahead of his time. But did he truly want to outlaw slavery?

Past, Present, and Future of the School of Salamanca. A Congress Report on its Fifth Centenary
The School of Salamanca was an intellectual movement in sixteenth century’s Spain. But what remains of it, and does it still matter for the challenges of our present and future? This was the central theme of the congress marking the fifth centenary of Francisco de Vitoria’s appointment to the cátedra de prima theologia at the University of Salamanca in 1526.

Independent Knowledge System for the People’s Republic? Using Chinese Legal History in Law
Regardless of how radical the transformation may be, as long as it is a change initiated by Chinese actors themselves, Chinese people remain Chinese.
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Legal History Insights is a blog about legal history, created by the department of Historical Regimes of Normativity at the Max Planck Institute for Legal History and Legal Theory and showcases posts from our current and former members and guests as well as those affiliated with our research.