The origins of the western legal tradition : from Thales to the Tudors / Ellen Goodman.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Foundations of western thought -- 2. Sophists, Socrates, Plato and Aristotle -- 3. Advent of Christianity -- 4. Fathers of the church -- 5. Roman law and the Roman Church -- 6. From feudalism to feudal law -- 7. Crisis between papacy and empire -- 8. Emergence of the common law -- 9. Origins of constitutionalism -- 10. Origins of Parliament in England.

Ellen Goodman uses extensive extracts from original writings to highlight the main themes of the Western legal tradition. The strength of the book is its clear focus on the heart of the tradition: constitutionalism, representative institutions and rule by law. Goodman links Christianity to its origins in Greek philosophy and Judaism. She delves into the position of the Roman Church as the tenuous, Dark Ages conduit. Feudalism lives and dies and the common law and parliament emerge. The author accurately and vividly charts the main currents, avoiding both the shoals and the myriad tributaries, and so enables readers to have a clearer and deeper understanding of our present legal system. Show more Show less