Puffendorf–Crull and the Afro–Asian World (1968–69)

This chapter discusses the work of Samuel Puffendorf (1632–94) and Jodocus Crull. Puffendorf, a professor at the Universities of Heidelberg and Lund, completed his main work on the Law of Nature and Nations in 1672. Ten years later he released the first volume of the Introduction to the History of the Principal States of Europe and volumes (II–III) appeared in the next few years. This treatise on European affairs was later extended to other continents constituting an Introduction to the History of Asia, Africa, and America. Evidence suggests that the original text of volume IV was written by Jodocus Crull. This is of particular interest to historians of the family and law of nations, as it was the first work on the history of universal inter-state relations covering all continents, civilizations, and various types of state formation, making its appearance within the framework of Puffendorf’s treatise.