Abstract/Summary

The sea has always been a legally problematic space. This chapter explores the development of maritime legal systems from the late medieval period to the beginning of the nineteenth century, engaging in particular with the question of whether a universal maritime law ever existed. It examines how different systems evolved in relation to European states and empires, expanding with those empires around the globe, while also highlighting how local and customary maritime law remained an essential component. The chapter concludes by reflecting how these same problems have continued to exist into the twenty-first century.