中世纪之东法西渐:试论伊斯兰法对英国法的影响

Medieval Legal Transmission From the Orient to the West:the Influence of Islamic Law on the English Law

英国法的起源是英国法律史研究的重要论题。近半个世纪以来,多名学者提出了"英国法的伊斯兰起源说"的新观点,认为英国法中的债务之诉、新近侵占之诉、陪审制、信托制、律师公会等制度都可能溯源至中世纪的伊斯兰法,而诺曼人治下的西西里王国、十字军东征以及商贸、宗教的人员往来等则是这些制度传播的渠道。这一学说为我们理解法律文明的多样性及中世纪东西方文明之间的历史关联提供了一个新视角,值得进一步的探索。

The origin of English Law is an important topic in the research of English legal history. In the last half-century, several scholars have uncovered some evidences which suggest that certain principles of early English law ,such as the action of debt, the assize of novel disseisin, trial by jury, trust and Inns of court are rooted in Islamic （“shari’a”）law, were introduced into Norman England through contact with the multicultural kingdoms of Sicily or by way of Crusades ,traders and Franciscans. This view provides us with a new perspective to understand the pluralism of legal civilizations and historical relationships between medieval oriental civilization and western civilization , and is worth researching further.