Roman law
Roman law
Roman law (pronunciation: /ˈroʊmən lɔː/) is the legal system of ancient Rome, and the legal developments which occurred before the 7th century AD - when the Roman–Byzantine state adopted Greek as the language of government. The development of Roman law comprises more than a thousand years of jurisprudence.
Etymology
The term "Roman law" originates from the city-state of Rome in 753 BC. The word "Roman" is derived from "Roma", the city's original name in Latin. The word "law" comes from the Old English "lagu", meaning something laid down or fixed.
History
Roman law as a legal system began around the 5th century BC, with the Twelve Tables. It was then developed and refined over the next thousand years by jurists and legislators such as Cicero, Julius Caesar, and Justinian I.
Principles
Roman law is the foundation of many modern legal systems, and its major principles include the equality of all citizens before the law, the right to a fair trial, and the idea that a person is innocent until proven guilty.
Related Terms
- Civil law: A legal system originating in mainland Europe and adopted in much of the world. The civil law system is intellectually based on Roman law, specifically Justinian law, and historically it set the pattern for the specific legal systems (codified and uncodified) as opposed to common law and canon law.
- Corpus Juris Civilis: An important modern collection of Roman legal texts, initiated by Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century AD.
- Jurisprudence: The study and theory of law. Scholars of jurisprudence seek to explain the nature of law in its most general form and provide a deeper understanding of legal reasoning, legal systems, legal institutions, and the role of law in society.
- Justinian I: A Byzantine emperor who reigned from 527 to 565. One of his significant contributions to Roman law was the Corpus Juris Civilis.
- Twelve Tables: The legislation that stood at the foundation of Roman law, enacted by the Decemviri between 451 and 450 BC.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Roman law
- Wikipedia's article - Roman law
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