Geschichte des europäischen und globalen Vertragsrechts

Forschungsprojekt

The history of contract law in Europe is one of the most important aspects of the history of private law. It begins with the law of ancient Rome, undergoes a dynamic transformation throughout the Middle Ages and the early modern period, continues to evolve after the enactment of the great civil codes of the nation states, and takes a transnational turn from the 1970s onwards.

This project focuses on the latest stage of this development and analyses the process commonly known as the ‘harmonisation’ of contract law at both the European and the global level. It historicises the genesis of various harmonisation projects, such as the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts, the Principles of European Contract Law and the Draft Common Frame of Reference. It studies the actors and institutions involved and contributes to our understanding of the most recent doctrinal developments in the area of contract law.