Rule of Law: Past to Present Past: might makes right Present: rules or laws broken, offenders are punished. Punitive or rule by fear. Future: rules are followed because of morality or in absence of physical force

Early Persian Law Code of Hammurabi 1 st written laws Emperor Hammurabi takes power in 1792 B.C. Mesopotamia or Fertile Crescent now Iraq Laws unequal, different classes punished differently for breaking same law

Early Jewish Law Eye for an eye: Justice Ten Commandments Written around 1100 B.C. Apply equally to all All are subject to The Law God made the law. No one is above God so no one is above the law.

Early Greek Law Socrates: Greek philosopher, stone mason, soldier, father, and teacher B.C. Athenian Quotes from Socrates: “let no day pass without discussing goodness” “the unexamined life is not worth living” “morality only exists in the absence of external force”

Early Greek Law Developed Socratic method: answering a question with a question thus guiding the questioner to find their own answer Socrates examined key moral concepts like good vs. evil, justice, virtue, right to rule etc.

Early Greek Law Taught young Athenians to question EVERYTHING Convicted of corrupting youth of Athens, condemned to death Drinks poison hemlock and dies Socrates' words are recorded by Plato a former student

Early Greek Law Plato: student of Socrates B.C. Traveled throughout the Mediterranean Founded School of Athens Concerned with the nature of justice and virtue Believed men and women were equal in intellect Wrote The Republic which states ideal gov’t is a dictatorship ruled by “philosopher kings”

Early Greek Law Aristotle: student of Plato B.C. Studied many gov’t liked three, monarchy, Oligarchy, and democracy Favorite was constitutional government similar to U.S. government today All discussed in his book Politics Amazing range of subjects, from logic, philosophy, and ethics to physics, biology, psychology, politics, and rhetoric.logicphilosophy ethicspolitics

Early Greek Law Pericles a Greek said “we do not say that a man who takes no interest in politics minds his own business; we say he has no business here at all.” Greeks called such men idiotes, meaning “idiot” or a fool who lives in his own private world.

Early Roman Law City of Rome founded by Romulus and Remus around 752 B.C. Ruled by kings/tyrants until 509 B.C when Roman Republic created 2 classes of citizens Plebeians, lower class, and Patricians, upper class

Early Roman Law Senate runs Republic Only Patricians could be Senators System of “checks and balances” exists Last century B.C. Republic starts to fall apart Julius Caesar and later his son Octavian become dictators and then emperors of Rome

Early Roman Law Rise of Dictators: Octavian takes control in 27 B.C. establishes Roman Empire Roman Empire lasts until 476 A.D. when Rome is sacked and burned by Visigoths

Roman Empire Best period of Roman Empire is “Pax Romana” or Roman Peace which lasted from 14 A.D. to 180 A.D. Problem with one person rule is no “checks and balances” If a ruler is bad there is no way to moderate their behavior

Christian Law Old Testament is Justice New Testament is Mercy or love thy neighbors What is the spirit of the law? Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's For An

Rule of Law: Past to Present Problem: not all societies agree on laws and some do not follow rule of law. Might STILL makes right Still a need for military force in an unpredictable world