The Law and the History of Economic Institutions of Capitalism – This seminar will focus on the formation and evolution of economic institutions from the height of the medieval Commercial Revolution to our present days. In the absence of strong states, how could the law support the rise of anonymous long-distance trade, early entrepreneurial activity and the ascent of financial capitalism? Major topics will consider the legal history of negotiable instruments under the lex mercatoria and codification, the institutions that governed the organization and finance of early trade, the organization of enterprises, the venues for contract enforcement, the regulation of financial intermediaries, sovereign debt, and the evolution of the global governance and financial architecture.