Las Siete Partidas

jester · Post by **jester** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:48 pm

Are these available online? In English? Or am I just going to have to suck it up and hit ILL or the bookstore?

I didn't really understand how important this document was and now that I do I've got to read it. Thanks, folks.

^ · Post by ^ » Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:47 pm

http://www.upenn.edu/pennpress/book/13446.html

Donal Mac Ruiseart · Post by **Donal Mac Ruiseart** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:40 am

The complete five-volume paperback set: ISBN 0-8122-1737-3 1744 pages $135.00

Whew, there's some serious scholarship there, for sure.

^ · Post by ^ » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:16 am

Donal Mac Ruiseart wrote:
The complete five-volume paperback set: ISBN 0-8122-1737-3 1744 pages $135.00

Whew, there's some serious scholarship there, for sure.

I'm not sure if the "Whew" was a reaction to the price but mine was that's a pretty good deal. Law codes like that and similar documents scholars can spend their whole lives studying, these are the kinds of sources that you just can't do a time and place without and this one has a long lasting impact. I'm still surprised that Gratian doesn't have an English translation which I'm sure would be none too cheap.

jester · Post by **jester** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:40 am

Well, $135 for five volumes isn't a bad price. I'd rather spend that money on armor (or a sword for cut and thrust) but, as Peder says, some sources it's hard to do without. The Seven Parts is *the* legal code for the Iberian Peninsula from the 13th Century on. Laws regarding the treatment of Moors and Jews, inheritance, the duties of knights and squires, the basic sumptuary codes, organization of schools, etc... It's all there and it's the basis against which later decrees must be viewed.

I'm going to talk to a couple of the local Iberian wonks before I even consider shelling out for these books, though.

^ · Post by ^ » Wed Jul 16, 2008 9:52 am

You can also always ILL or see if a local library has a copy to look at.

Fire Stryker · Post by **Fire Stryker** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 10:28 am

$135 is small coin for a 5 volume set. I came across a small portion of the Sumptuary laws in my own research project that was interesting.

Nice find.

Donal Mac Ruiseart · Post by **Donal Mac Ruiseart** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:46 am

My "Whew" was a reaction to the sheer scale.

As you say, it's the sort of thing that could make for a lifetime of study, and even a simple read-though would take a significant amount of time and some dedication.

But I can see that for a student of that area, such a reference would be of great value.