Roman 12 Tables and Roman 12 Tables and Justinian’s CodeJustinian’s Code

Early Rome & the RepublicEarly Rome & the Republic

Romans lived by laws Romans lived by laws developed through developed through centuries of customcenturies of custom

This customary law was This customary law was handed down over handed down over generations and applied generations and applied to citizens (civil law)to citizens (civil law)

The patricians made The patricians made decisions and ruled in decisions and ruled in questions of customary questions of customary law, giving them an law, giving them an advantage over the advantage over the plebiansplebians

The plebians agitated to gain more The plebians agitated to gain more equality and pressed for the law to be equality and pressed for the law to be written down, so they could anticipate written down, so they could anticipate decisions and understand the lawdecisions and understand the law

The Twelve TablesThe Twelve Tables A committee of ten men A committee of ten men

produced the Twelve produced the Twelve Tables in 449 BCE, Tables in 449 BCE, documenting the documenting the centuries-old customary centuries-old customary lawslaws

These Twelve Tables These Twelve Tables became the foundation became the foundation of Roman lawof Roman law

Addressed civil Addressed civil procedure, debt, procedure, debt, parents & children, parents & children, property, marriage, property, marriage, funerals, etc.funerals, etc.

From Republic to EmpireFrom Republic to Empire

As the Roman republic grew and As the Roman republic grew and transformed into an empire, the transformed into an empire, the population became more diversepopulation became more diverse

Legal questions involved Roman Legal questions involved Roman citizens as well as non-citizens to citizens as well as non-citizens to whom the civil laws did not applywhom the civil laws did not apply

This led to the development of the This led to the development of the “law of nations” that applied to “law of nations” that applied to everyoneeveryone

Justinian and Byzantine EmpireJustinian and Byzantine Empire Justinian ruled (527-Justinian ruled (527-

565 CE) the Eastern or 565 CE) the Eastern or Byzantine Empire Byzantine Empire after the Western after the Western Empire collapsed in Empire collapsed in 476 CE476 CE

Justinian sought to Justinian sought to unify the empire by unify the empire by compiling all Roman compiling all Roman law into one documentlaw into one document

This document This document became known as became known as “Justinian’s Code”“Justinian’s Code”

Justinian’s CodeJustinian’s Code The Code was actually only one of three parts of The Code was actually only one of three parts of

this compilationthis compilation Addressed marriage, parents, slaves and Addressed marriage, parents, slaves and

freedmen, guardianships, adoptions, etc.freedmen, guardianships, adoptions, etc. Justinian’s Code was rediscovered, studied, and Justinian’s Code was rediscovered, studied, and

reproduced in Italy in the 11reproduced in Italy in the 11thth century century

Why is Justinian’s Code Why is Justinian’s Code Significant?Significant?

All later systems of law in the West All later systems of law in the West borrowed heavily from it, including borrowed heavily from it, including English and American lawEnglish and American law

Considered Justinian’s greatest Considered Justinian’s greatest contribution to the history of Western contribution to the history of Western societysociety

Quick ReviewQuick Review

We have covered We have covered the following law the following law codes up to this codes up to this point:point: Hammurabi’s CodeHammurabi’s Code Mosaic (Hebrew) Mosaic (Hebrew)

LawLaw Shari-ah Muslim Law Shari-ah Muslim Law

CodeCode Roman 12 TablesRoman 12 Tables Justinian’s CodeJustinian’s Code