Prawo do polowania w średniowiecznej Polsce

Abstract

The hunting has been an inherent part of human life since the beginning of mankind. It formed the foundations of the economy of hunter-gatherers, as this gave an access to the food, leather and fur clothing, as well as any necessary bone tools. Moreover, it was a form of protection against wild animals. Primarily, as is the case today, this area of life was strongly constrained and controlled. The hunting right began to form in the early Middle Ages on Polish territory. That time it was undoubtedly one of the most important area of the law that covered and governed, inter alia, such issues and questions as: wild game and hunting areas, people licensed to hunt, weapon permitted as well as hunting strategies and hunters’ associations. In the Middle Ages, due to the economic and social changes, the interesting evolution of the hunting system took place. This study presents the individual stages of development of the medieval hunting law: from the historical hunting monopoly of a ruler, through the period of granting of the hunting privileges and transformation of the hunting law into the inherited rights system, to connection of the hunting right with the land use right. However, the most important aspect is the fact that the latter medieval concept was reflected in any legal acts governing the hunting right in the following ages.