The Free Sea / Edition 1

by Hugo Grotius

Overview

Liberty Fund’s edition of The Free Sea is the only translation of Grotius’s masterpiece undertaken in his own lifetime, left in manuscript by the English historian, Richard Hakluyt (1552–1616). It also contains William Welwod’s critique of Grotius (reprinted for the first time since the seventeenth century) and Grotius’s reply to Welwod. These documents provide an indispensable introduction to modern ideas of sovereignty and property as they emerged from the early-modern tradition of natural law.

Hugo Grotius (1583–1645) was a lawyer and legal theorist, diplomat and political philosopher, ecumenical activist and theologian.

David Armitage is the Lloyd C. Blankfein Professor of History at Harvard University.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780865974319
Publisher:	Liberty Fund, Incorporated
Publication date:	03/12/2004
Series:	Natural Law and Enlightenment Classics
Pages:	170
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

Table of Contents

Introduction xi
A Note on the Texts xxi
Acknowledgments xxv

HUGO GROTIUS, THE FREE SEA I
William Welwod, “Of the Community
and Propriety of the Seas” 63

Hugo Grotius, “Defense of Chapter V
of the Mare Liberum" 75

Bibliography
Works of Hugo Grotius 131
Other Works Referred to in the Text and Notes 132
Index 137

Editorial Reviews

Mare Liberum in 1609 arguing that no nation can own the sea. The context was debates between the United Provinces and the Spanish monarchy from which the Dutch had just broken away, and the Dutch right to commercial penetration in Southeast Asia. Here is its translation from Latin by English geographer Hakluyt (1552–1616), critique by William Welwood (fl. 1578–1622), and Grotius’ reply. It is edited by David Armitage (history, Columbia U.)

Reference & Research Book News
August 2004

From the Publisher