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  • 2 - Territory and Jurisdiction in West Asia

  • from Part I - International Law in the Ancient Near East (Third Millennium–500 bc)
  • General editor Randall Lesaffer, KU Leuven and Tilburg University
  • Edited by Jesper Eidem, University of Pisa, Jacob Giltaij, University of Amsterdam, Kaius Tuori, University of Helsinki
  • Book:
    The Cambridge History of International Law
    Print publication:
    16 July 2026, pp 40-61

  • Summary

    This chapter explores the development of territorial jurisdiction and border concepts in ancient West Asia from the third to the first millennium BC. Drawing on treaties, letters, edicts and legal documents, it examines how borders were defined, contested and maintained among major powers, such as the Hittites, Assyrians, Babylonians and Egyptians. The study distinguishes between borders, boundaries and frontiers, and highlights the role of natural features, divine authority and political agreements in shaping territorial claims. It discusses the principle of status quo in resolving disputes, the use of demilitarized zones, and the material marking of borders through stelae. The chapter also addresses maritime control, land grants and the exchange or purchase of territories, emphasizing the fluid and pragmatic nature of ancient territorial governance. Through detailed case studies, it reveals how power dynamics, diplomacy, and strategic interests influenced the legal and practical management of space in the ancient Near East.