English Legal History and Interdisciplinary Legal Studies in Anthony Musson, ed, Boundaries of the law Geography, Gender and urisdiction in Medieval and early Modern Europe(Ashgate, forthcoming) Jonathan Rose L. Introduc This paper will focus on two issues the nature of medieval and early modem English legal history and its place in interdisciplinary legal studies and the possible opportunities for expanding the interface etween English legal history and other additional disciplines. Before turning to these issues, an overview of interdisciplinary activities seems necessary since many of them may be unfamiliar to English legal historians II. Interdisciplinary Legal Studies: An Overview Interdisciplinary intellectual pursuits in the legal academy have increased significantly in the last several decades, particularly in the United States. Some interest in the relationship between law and other disciplines existed previously ofcourse. Jurisprudence has always been part of modern legaleducationand a traditional subject of scholarship. The Law and Society movement is a longstanding multi-disciplinary effort that has produced a richand substantial body of scholarship. The University of Chicago Law School has harbored economists in its midst long enough for the phrase " Chicago School to become an academic household word. The Yale Law School faculty has had an assortment of social scientists for decades. Nor should legal history be omitted from this catalogue of early interdisciplinary efforts The broadened law and economics movement that began in the 60s was perhaps the catalyst for Willard H. Pedrick Distinguished and Professor of li of Law. Arizona State Ur B.A. 1960, University of Pennsylvani ity of minnes thor wishes to express appl to Paul Brand, Richard helmholz, n, Daniel Klerman Jeffrie Murphy, Anthony M Michael Saks, and George Schatzki comments. As usua hor bears full responsibility Article's analysis and conclusions 1. See G. Edward White, Reflections on the "Republican Revival". Interdisciplinary Scholarship in the Legal Academy, 6 Yale J. Law& Humanities 1, 23 n54(1994) and case law e anthrop J ugisprodence (at9 3 se N. Llewllyn E. Adamson Hoebel, The Cheyenne Way: Conlicr 3. Some scholars have included history within Law and Society. See Marc Galanter Mark Alan Edwards, Introduction The Path of Law Ands, 1997 Wis L Rev. 375, 379.* Willard H. Pedrick Distinguished Research Scholar and Professor of Law, College of Law, Arizona State University. B.A. 1960, University of Pennsylvania; LL.B. 1963, University of Minnesota. The author wishes to express appreciation to Paul Brand, Richard Helmholz, David Lieberman, Daniel Klerman, Owen Jones, Jeffrie Murphy, Anthony Musson, Michael Saks, and George Schatzki for their helpful comments. As usual, the author bears full responsibility for the Article’s analysis and conclusions. 1. See G. Edward White, Reflections on the “Republican Revival”: Interdisciplinary Scholarship in the Legal Academ y, 6 Yale J. Law & Humanities 1, 23 n.54 (1994). 2. For a lawyer-anthropologist collaboration, see K.N. Llewellyn & E. Adamson Hoebel, The Cheyenne Way: Conflict and Case Law in Primitive Jurisprudence (1953, 1941). 3. Some scholars have included history within Law and Society. See Marc Galanter & Mark Alan Edwards, Introduction: The Path of Law Ands, 1997 Wis L. Rev. 375, 379. 1 English Legal History and Interdisciplinary Legal Studies in Anthony Musson, ed., Boundaries of the Law: Geography, Gender and Jurisdiction in Medieval and Early Modern Europe (Ashgate,forthcoming). Jonathan Rose* I. Introduction This paper will focus on two issues:the nature ofmedievaland early modern English legal history and its place in interdisciplinary legal studies and the possible opportunities for expanding the interface between English legal history and other additionaldisciplines.Before turning to these issues, an overview of interdisciplinary activities seems necessary since many of them may be unfamiliar to English legal historians. II. Interdisciplinary Legal Studies: An Overview Interdisciplinary intellectual pursuits in the legal academy have increased significantly in the last several decades, particularly inthe United States. Some interest in the relationship between law and other disciplines existed previously ofcourse.1 Jurisprudencehasalways beenpart ofmodernlegaleducationand a traditional subject of scholarship. The Law and Society movement is a longstanding multi-disciplinary effort that has produced a richand substantialbodyofscholarship. The University of Chicago Law School has harbored economistsinitsmidst long enough forthe phrase “Chicago School” to become anacademic household word. TheYaleLawSchoolfacultyhas had anassortment ofsocialscientistsfor decades.2 Nor should legal history be omitted from this catalogue of early interdisciplinary efforts.3 The broadened lawand economics movement that beganinthe 60's was perhaps the catalyst for