The freedom of the seas : or, The right which belongs to the Dutch to take…
"The Freedom of the Seas: or, The Right which belongs to the Dutch to take…” is a legal and philosophical treatise written during the early 17th century. The likely author is Hugo Grotius, a renowned Dutch jurist, and the work is presented here in a scholarly English edition accompanied by Latin text and extensive academic apparatus. The central topic of the book is the argument that the seas—and specifically the right of
navigation and trade—are common to all and cannot rightfully be claimed as the exclusive domain of any one nation, focusing particularly on Dutch claims in opposition to Portuguese and Spanish monopolies in the East Indian trade. The opening of this treatise frames the conflict as one of natural law and universal justice, appealing to rulers and nations to consider the equality of all peoples and the shared rights granted to humanity by God and nature. Grotius lays out the case that justice is not subject merely to the whims or power of rulers, but derives from immutable principles applicable to all. He summarizes the points at issue: whether any nation can claim the vast oceans as its exclusive possession, and whether it can exclude others from navigation or trade. Beginning with the proposition that freedom of navigation and commerce is a right of all nations by law of nature and nations, he refutes the rights of discovery, Papal donation, and war as valid grounds for Portuguese sovereignty over the seas or peoples of the East Indies. The treatise draws on classical sources, legal theory, and theological authorities to defend the Dutch right to participate in the East Indian trade and assert the essential openness of the seas to all. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Grotius, Hugo, 1583-1645 |
|---|---|
| Editor | Scott, James Brown, 1866-1943 |
| Translator | Magoffin, Ralph Van Deman, 1874-1942 |
| LoC No. | 16010705 |
| Title | The freedom of the seas : or, The right which belongs to the Dutch to take part in the East Indian trade |
| Original Publication | New York: Oxford University Press, 1916. |
| Note | Reading ease score: 58.4 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read. |
| Note | At head of title: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Division of International Law. |
| Credits | John Campbell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | KZ: Law in general, Comparative and uniform law, Jurisprudence: Law of nations |
| Subject | Freedom of the seas |
| Subject | Law of the sea |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 75962 |
| Release Date | Apr 26, 2025 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 1130 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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