Description
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC The Payment Order of Antiquity and the Middle Ages: A Legal History by Benjamin Geva
This is a book about the legal history of the order to pay money initiating a non-cash payment or funds transfer. Exploring the legal nature of the payment order and its underpinning in light of contemporary institutions and mechanisms the book traces their evolution from developments in Ancient Mesopotamia Ancient Greece Rome Greco-Roman Egypt Continental Europe and England. Doctrine is examined in Jewish Islamic Roman common and civil laws: investigating such diverse legal systems and doctrines the author identifies the common denominator for the evolving legal principles speculates on possible reciprocity and challenges the idea of a law merchant as a mercantile creation.Ultimately the book provides an account of the evolution of payment law as a distinct cohesive body of legal doctrine applicable to funds transfers. The author points at deposit banking and emerging technologies as embodying a great potential for future non-cash payment system growth and yet recommends caution in predicting both the future of deposit banking and the overall impact of technology. At the same time he expresses confidence in the durability of legal doctrine to continue evolving and accommodating future developments.