Laws of all the Greeks : international law as social reality in ancient Greece / Jesse James.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

James, Jesse, Author.

Series:

History and theory of international law

The history and theory of international law

Language:

English

Greek, Modern (1453-)

Subjects (All):

International law--Greece--History.

International law.

Law--Social aspects--Greece--History.

Law.

Law, Greek--History.

Law, Greek.

Greece--Politics and government--To 146 B.C.

Greece.

Greece--International relations--History.

International law--History.

Law--Social aspects.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2026]

Language Note:

Text in English and some Greek.

Summary:

The ancient Greek world was permeated with international law, the binding rules of behavior that Greeks across the Mediterranean followed and enforced for centuries. But why was international law effective in this world? Laws of All the Greeks offers an original answer rooted in contemporary social theory, presenting a definitive account of ancient Greek international law while delving into the social and psychological foundations that made it potent and durable. Challenging recent claims that international law did not exist in the Greek world, 'Laws of All the Greeks' makes a robust case not only for its existence, but for the importance of taking ancient Greek international law as an historical subject in the first place. It provides an updated history of select elements of that law, including the right to private self-help; judicial treaties known as symbola; and piracy.

Contents:

Cover

Half Title

Series

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

Part I Background and Framework

1 Introducing Greek International Law

International law as social reality

International law in action

The plan of the book

This book's place in international law scholarship

2 The Reality of Greek International Law

Justifying the project

The ancient Greek world as international

Greek states: Their variety and relations

Greek international law as "law"

The lawfulness of international "law"

Conclusion.

3 Psychology, States, and International Legal Socialization

Law as social reality

Going below the state level

A basic psychological model

State and psychology

Psychology, politics, and international law in the Greek world

Legal socialization, networks, and identity

Socialization

Group identity and the effectiveness of law: Helping friends

The other side of identity: Harming enemies

International identity and socialization

Networks and socialization in the Greek world

4 International Identity and Socialization in Ancient Greece

A networked world.

International religious festivals

Polis, competition, and conflict

Sanctuaries, memorials, and identity

Networks beyond festivals

Complications of Greek identity: Delos, Ionians, and Islanders

Conclusion

Part II Syla and Symbola: International Law and Commerce

5 Syla: Approaching Legal Self-Help in the Greek World

Socioeconomics of private law

Trade beyond the polis

Law, economics, and institutions. Or, How I learned to stop worrying and love Moses Finley

International commercial legal disputes in the Greek world

Syla: Legal seizure

Seizure in domestic law.

Conclusion

6 Syla as Self-Help in Greek International Law

Legal seizure in international law

Olbia and the northern Black Sea

The fifth century: Why not ban seizure on the open sea?

Syla in the fourth century

Athenians

Salaminians

Cyreneans

Granting seizures

Limited restrictions on seizures

Continuities and novelties in the third century and beyond

Conclusion: The social aspects of syla

7 Symbola: Social Origins of a Legal Institution

Introducing symbola

Access and economics

Symbola "Origins": Social and literary context.

Historical social background: xenia and proxenia

Philological perspectives

symbola vs. symbolai

The first-known symbola agreements

Ionia

Oianthea and Chaleion redux

8 Symbola from the Athenian Empire to the Hegemony of Rome

Continuing the history

The Delian League and Athenian Empire

Eleusis

Athenians and Phaselites

Thucydides 1.77

Athenians, Mytileneans, Selymbrians

Athenians and Evagoras of Salamis

Athenians and Samians: the "Samos stele"

The fourth century

Troizenians, Stymphalians, and Athenians

Troizenians and Athenians.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource and publisher information; title from PDF title page (Oxford Academic, viewed on June 9, 2026).

Other Format:

Print version : James, Jesse Laws of all the greeks

ISBN:

9780197838556

0197838553

OCLC:

1573357682

Publisher Number:

CIPO000352461

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license