Roman law

Roman law 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 - from the Twelve Tables (c. 449 BC) to the Corpus Juris Civilis (AD 529) ordered by Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I. This legal system, which was the most effective in Western history, influenced the legal systems of most western countries.

History

Roman law was heavily influenced by Greek philosophy, but its detailed rules were developed by professional jurists and were highly sophisticated. Over the course of the centuries, it was adapted to cope with the changing social situations and underwent major codification under Theodosius II and Justinian I. Although codes were replaced by custom and case law during the Dark Ages, Roman law was rediscovered around the 11th century when medieval legal scholars began to research Roman codes and adapt their concepts.

Principles

Roman law was founded on the principle that the law must be written so that all citizens might read and understand it. The survival of Roman law was due to its use by the church, which retained its essential features, albeit influenced by Christian theology.

Legacy

Roman law forms a vital part of the intellectual background of many legal systems currently in force in Western Europe, Latin America, and other parts of the world.

See also

• Byzantine law
• Civil law (legal system)
• Corpus Juris Civilis
• Twelve Tables

References

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