History of the Roman Legal System
Roman laws developed over centuries to respond to what
The growing complexities of society
Term used for the legal process that ensured citizens could defend themselves in public
A trial
What issues did Roman family law address?
marriage, divorce, and guardianship of children
What key legal protection did Roman citizens have when accused of crimes?
the right to a fair trial
Roman law was divided into public law and this other kind of law
private law (jus privatum)
Although sophisticated, how was the Roman legal system often described in its application?
Unyieldingly harsh?
What brutal punishment could be used for crimes like treason?
crucifixion or being thrown to wild beasts
What kind of agreements were central to Roman business and legal obligations?
contracts
What 212 CE decree extended citizenship to all free people in the empire?
the Constitutio Antoniniana
What type of court dealt with civil matters like inheritances and wills?
the centumviral court?
What phrase from the text describes the speed and severity of Roman law enforcement?
"brutal efficiency"
What was the punishment for for a slave killing their master
all the household slaves could be executed
Who would wealthy citizens often hire to argue on their behalf in court?
advocates
Roman women had some legal rights. Name one.
owning property (or making wills, or initiating divorce)
Who issued edicts that interpreted and adapted existing laws?
praetors
The Pax Romana led to
Refinement of legal practises
What role did the Senate play in criminal justice?
prosecuting crimes involving high-ranking officials
What was used to resolve disputes fairly and consistently in court?
formal legal proceedings involving evidence and argument
Who was granted limited citizenship and could not fully participate in politics?
freedmen (liberti)
What were the legal opinions of Roman jurists called?
responsa
What standardised legal procedures across the empire?
Perpetual Edict
List three categories crimes were classified into
Theft, Assault, Murder
Who were legal experts like Gaius and Ulpian, and how did they influence cases?
jurists whose interpretations could affect legal outcomes in complex disputes?
What legal system applied to non-citizens or peregrines
jus gentium
hat allowed the legal system to be shaped by cultural norms over time?
the integration of custom and tradition into formal law