Program overview
Legal history might sound a bit "old," but it's actually fascinating. Simply put, this major explores how law has changed from ancient times to the present—covering topics like ancient Chinese legal codes, Western Roman law, and legal ideas across different civilizations. You'll study core courses such as Chinese legal history, foreign legal history, and comparative legal history, and read classic legal texts. If you're interested in history, philosophy, and culture, and enjoy pondering "why laws are the way they are," this major is a great fit. Chinese universities have a strong tradition in legal history—institutions like Renmin University of China, Peking University, and China University of Political Science and Law boast excellent faculty and resources, especially in Chinese legal history, where you can access primary archives and unearthed documents.