ABSTRACT

Roman Law: An Introduction offers a clear and accessible introduction to Roman law for students of any legal tradition. In the thousand years between the Law of the Twelve Tables and Justinian’s massive Codification, the Romans developed the most sophisticated and comprehensive secular legal system of Antiquity, which remains at the heart of the civil law tradition of Europe, Latin America, and some countries of Asia and Africa. Roman lawyers created new legal concepts, ideas, rules, and mechanisms that most Western legal systems still apply. The study of Roman law thus facilitates understanding among people of different cultures by inspiring a kind of legal common sense and breadth of knowledge.

Based on over twenty-five years’ experience teaching Roman law, this volume offers a comprehensive examination of the subject, as well as a historical introduction which contextualizes the Roman legal system for students who have no familiarity with Latin or knowledge of Roman history. More than a compilation of legal facts, the book captures the defining characteristics and principal achievements of Roman legal culture through a millennium of development.

part I|107 pages

Roman law in historical context

chapter 1|25 pages

Basic legal concepts and values

chapter 2|20 pages

Constitutional background of Roman law

chapter 3|15 pages

Sources of Roman law

chapter 4|16 pages

The jurists and the legal science

chapter 5|10 pages

Justinian and the Corpus Iuris

chapter 6|20 pages

The revival of Roman law

part II|110 pages

Roman law in action

chapter 7|18 pages

Civil litigation

chapter 8|17 pages

Family law

chapter 9|18 pages

Property law

chapter 10|18 pages

The law of succession

chapter 11|25 pages

The law of obligations I

Contracts

chapter 12|13 pages

The law of obligations II

Delicts