| 22.14 |
Legal History 500 BCE - 400 CE
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
While Hammurabi has instituted simplified public laws over twelve hundred years before Rome, the nature of law to both grow in complexity and return to bad old habits is ever present. |
|
| |
In the case of Rome and the Ancient Greek Trading cities, law had become something hidden from view and used for both political and financial advantage. |
|
| |
Then around the 5th Century, the Roman Senate was forced to promulgate a set of standard laws which were to become the basis of the Roman Legal System for the next six hundred years. |
|
| |
| Key legal concept: The Twelve Tables (Roman Forum 450 BCE) |
Architect |
Roman Senate (460 BCE) |
Main influence |
"twelve shields" of King Numa Pompilius |
Idea |
All key laws to be made public. All laws clear and written in language that average people could understand when spoken (as most could not read). Simple enough to be remembered by justices.
|
|
|
|
| 22.14.1 |
The Roman Citizenship |
|
| |
The single greatest legal reform of the Romans was probably their sophisticated system of citizenship. Quite simply, Roman Citizenship with the "super Green Card" of its day. |
|
| |
In a world that remained brutal and uncertain, a full Roman citizen had rights that were unheard of until that time. A Roman Citizen could appeal their sentence to the Emperor themselves. Roman citizens were forbidden to be executed by cruel and unusual punishment, or to be tortured. |
|
| |
| Key legal concept: Roman Citizenship |
Architect |
Roman Senate (150 BCE) |
Main influence |
Aristotle and Hellenic Empire |
Idea |
Citizenship can be granted to persons not born of Rome. Citizens have inalienable rights which cannot even be usurped by the Emperor.
|
|
|
|
| |
Citizens were granted privileges such as access to public buildings and priority access to market, business and entertainment of Roman cities. |
|
| |
So powerful were these incentives that when Rome granted such citizenship to the nobles of conquered lands, it remained a large incentive for them and their successors to stay within the Roman Empire. |
|
| |
While full Roman citizenship was granted to less than 1% of those living within the boundaries of the Empire, it effect was profound in promoting peace, trade, common acceptance of laws and as an indirect result, general improvements in law and order for ordinary people. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Copyright © 2010 UCADIA. All rights reserved.
|
