Piri Reis University Faculty of Law, Piri Reis University Maritime History Application and Research Center (DETAM), Piri Reis University Maritime Law Application and Research Center (DHUAM), and Ankara University National Research Center for Maritime Law (DEHUKAM) have signed an important academic collaboration by organizing the scientific meeting titled 'Maritime Law Colloquiums Through the Ages – I.' The event, held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, from 10:00 to 17:00, took place in Seminar Room 1 at the Tuzla Maritime Campus of Piri Reis University, bringing together expert academicians and interested parties in the field.

This widely attended colloquium, subtitled 'Ancient Maritime Law from Mesopotamia to the Roman Empire,' thoroughly examined the historical roots of maritime law. Within the scope of the event, the development of maritime regulations was addressed for the first time in Turkey in such a comprehensive manner through an interdisciplinary approach, focusing on Mesopotamia, Egypt, Hittite, Greek, and Roman worlds.

The program began with a tea and coffee reception prior to the meeting at 09:30. The opening ceremony, which started at 10:00, featured the first speech by Retired Admiral Metin Ataç, the 22nd Commander of the Turkish Naval Forces, a member of the Board of Trustees of Piri Reis University, and the founder of DETAM. Following Admiral Ataç's speech, the opening remarks were delivered in succession by Prof. Dr. B. Ceyda Süral Efeçınar, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Piri Reis University; Prof. Dr. Havva İşkan, Director of DETAM; Prof. Dr. Sezer Ilgın, Director of the Maritime Law Application and Research Center at Piri Reis University; and Dr. Mustafa Başkara, Director of the National Research Center for Maritime Law (DEHUKAM) at Ankara University.

Emotional moments were experienced in the hall during the opening speeches. Prof. Dr. Sezer Ilgın commemorated the late Prof. Dr. N. Bülent Sözer, the first Professor of Roman Law at the Faculty of Law at Piri Reis University and former director of the Maritime Law Application and Research Center, due to the colloquium's focus on Maritime Law in Antiquity and the Roman Period. The sharing of a video recording from the last minutes of the late professor's final lecture brought emotional moments to the attendees. On this occasion, the unique contributions of Prof. Sözer as a Roman jurist regarding maritime law and his invaluable contributions to the academic development of the faculty were once again respectfully remembered.

Dr. Mustafa Başkara, Director of DEHUKAM, expressed in his speech how pleased they were with the academic collaboration initiated with Piri Reis University. Dr. Başkara shared his hopes that this important series of colloquiums focusing on the historical development and roots of maritime law would continue to grow in the coming years.

The first session titled 'The Birth of Maritime Law in Pre-Roman Near Eastern Civilizations,' which began at 10:30 and lasted until 11:40, was chaired by Prof. Dr. Havva İşkan from the Maritime History Application and Research Center of Piri Reis University. In this session, early maritime activities extending from Mesopotamia to Egypt, the first legal texts regulating river and sea trade, and the initial commercial and diplomatic control mechanisms shaped in the Eastern Mediterranean were evaluated in depth.

Prof. Dr. Hakan Erol and Yunus Emre Çankaya from Ankara University presented their joint paper titled 'Waterways in Ancient Mesopotamian Law.' This presentation highlighted particularly the rules regarding waterways in the legal systems of Sumer, Babylon, and Hittite, mechanisms aimed at ensuring trade security, and practices related to the protection of maritime trade as notable historical examples.

Mustafa Bilgin from Istanbul University presented his paper titled 'Maritime Law in Egypt,' conveying the legal approaches of Egyptian civilization regarding waterways.

Mehmet Yiğit Meydan from Marmara University shared his study titled 'Maritime Activities and Maritime Law in the Hittite Empire: An Evaluation in Light of Philological and Archaeological Data.' The commercial prohibitions evaluated in the context of Hittite-Assyrian relations and the limitations on maritime trade provided a significant ground for discussions in the hall as early examples of inter-state economic sanctions in antiquity.

The first session concluded with a fifteen-minute tea and coffee break after the question-and-answer session held between 11:30 and 11:40.

The second session titled 'Maritime Activities, Trade, and Legal Framework in the Eastern Mediterranean in Antiquity,' which began at 11:55 and concluded at 13:05, was chaired by Prof. Dr. Pervin Somer from Okan University. This session addressed critical issues related to the formation of maritime activities, commercial activities, and the legal framework regulating them in the Eastern Mediterranean basin during antiquity. Additionally, maritime trade and proto-embargo practices in the context of Hittite-Assyrian relations were detailed.

Research Assistant Dr. Erkan Kurul from Akdeniz University presented his paper titled 'From Sumer to Eastern Rome: Early Traces and Classical Foundations of Ancient Maritime Law - A Thalassographic Evaluation.' The classical foundations and evolution of maritime law were examined from Sumer to Eastern Rome through a thalassographic perspective.

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hamdi Sayar from Istanbul Medeniyet University delivered a talk titled 'Legal Regulations in the Eastern Mediterranean in Antiquity.' This presentation covered the regulations related to maritime law in the Eastern Mediterranean basin in antiquity, the rules of Rhodian maritime law, and how these rules were reflected in Roman law. The direct impact of the Rhodian Laws on collision law and the lasting legacy they left on contemporary maritime trade law were discussed in detail.

After the question-and-answer session held between 12:55 and 13:05, participants proceeded to a lunch break that would last until 14:25.

The third session titled 'Foundations of Maritime Law and Maritime Security in Ancient Greece and Rome,' which began at 14:25, was chaired by Prof. Dr. Sezer Ilgın from Piri Reis University. This session focused on the legal dimensions of maritime security in the ancient world.

Assistant Professor Dr. Erkut Ziya Sivrikaya from Near East University evaluated the historical background of the relationship between the sea and law in his presentation titled 'The Sea and Law in Antiquity.'

Dr. Öğr. Üy. Mustafa Tuncer from the Naval Warfare Institute of the National Defense University presented his paper titled 'Bellum Omnium Contra Omnes: Maritime Warfare Law in Ancient Greece and Rome,' comparing the development of maritime warfare law in ancient times and its effects on contemporary maritime warfare law.

Dr. Öğr. Gör. Hakan Mehmet Köktürk from Piri Reis University presented on 'The Fight Against Piracy in Light of Maritime Security and Legal Legitimacy in the Roman Empire.' The historical continuity of the legal and institutional tools developed by the Roman Empire to combat piracy while ensuring sovereignty and security in the Mediterranean was emphasized.

The session concluded at 15:50 after the question-and-answer segment held between 15:25 and 15:35, followed by a tea and coffee break.

The final session of the day, titled 'Maritime Trade and Private Law Institutions in Roman Law,' began at 15:50 under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Samim Ünan from Piri Reis University. This session examined the institutions of Roman law that guide modern maritime trade.

Prof. Dr. İpek Sevda Söğüt from Piri Reis University presented her paper titled 'Maritime Transportation Contracts within the Framework of Locatio Conductio in Roman Private Law,' evaluating the legal nature of contracts related to maritime transportation within the framework of the locatio conductio institution.

Associate Professor Dr. Fevzi Topsoy from Piri Reis University presented his paper titled 'Collisions in the Rhodian Laws and Their Reflections on Contemporary Legal Rules.'

Dr. Öğr. Üy. Yavuz Can Aslan from Kadir Has University delivered a presentation titled 'The Relationship of the Pactum Hypotecæ Institution in Roman Law to the Historical Development of the Ship Creditor's Right.' This presentation shared significant evaluations regarding the historical background of modern maritime trade law.

Research Assistant Ezgi Alyürük Güngör from Okan University presented her paper titled 'Maritime Trade in Roman Law and the Development of Risk Coverage Instruments,' discussing risk coverage instruments related to maritime trade, early examples of the insurance concept, and the evolution of the understanding of general average over time.

The colloquium successfully concluded with the question-and-answer session and closing speeches held between 17:10 and 17:20.

Throughout the day-long scientific celebration, all academic presentations demonstrated that maritime activities in the ancient world were not merely an economic element; they also played a decisive role in shaping political, diplomatic, and legal order from various perspectives.

The notion that maritime trade law is not a new field unique to modern legal systems and the present day, but rather a product of a deep and historical accumulation extending back to great civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Hittite, Greek, and Roman, was strongly evidenced by the scientific papers presented. The long process from the lands of Mesopotamia to the Roman Empire revealed that fundamental issues such as maritime trade, maritime security, the transportation of goods and passengers, the responsibilities of the parties, acts of piracy, and the sharing of commercial risks generated similar legal needs even among different civilizations. It was once again emphasized that these common human and commercial needs, having passed through the sieve of time and gradually institutionalized, formed the solid foundation of contemporary maritime law.

The 'Maritime Law Colloquiums Through the Ages' series, which took its first step with the valuable collaboration of the Faculty of Law of Piri Reis University, the Maritime History Application and Research Center (DETAM), the Maritime Law Application and Research Center (Dz.Huk.Uyg.Ar.Mrk.), and Ankara University DEHUKAM, was announced to continue with new scientific meetings addressing the rich historical development of maritime law through different historical periods and various geographies.

Source: SeaNews Türkiye