'… intellectual historians and many other audiences too will happily and gratefully scavenge on its rich argument, wealth of scholarship and detail.' Koen Stapelbroek, Journal of the History of International Law / Revue d'histoire du droit international (JHIL)
Introduction; 1. Legal Imagination in a Christian World – Ruling France, c. 1300; 2. The Political Philosophy of jus gentium – the Expansion of Spain, 1524–1559; 3. Italian Lessons – ius gentium and Reason of States; 4. The Rule of Law – Grotius; 5. Governing Sovereignty – Negotiating French 'Absolutism' in Europe, 1625–1715; 6. Reason, Resolution, Restoration – European Public Law, 1715–1804; 7. Colonies, Companies, Slaves – French dominium in the World, 1627–1804; 8. The Law and Economics of State-Building – England, c. 1450–c. 1650; 9. 'Giving Law to the World – England, c. 1635–c. 1830; 10. Global Law – Ruling the British Empire; 11. A Science of State-Machines – ius naturae et gentium as a German Discipline, 1500–1758; 12. The End of Natural Law – German Freedom, 1734–1821; Epilogue.