Roman Law & Daily Life

Roman Law Among the very few ancient societies to develop laws that were codified. Began in 450 BCE with the Twelve Tables. Series of legal procedures and appropriate punishments. E.g. A man might gather up fruit that was falling down onto another man's farm By 534 CE, the Corpus Juris Civilis existed with over a million words! Codified - officially written down.

How It Began In 451 BCE, the plebians pressured the government to begin writing down laws. Why? So that the patricians didn’t have sole control over it and create laws that only served their interests.

Roman Law Two major legal divisions: Civil and Criminal Criminal law developed out of tradition of taking private revenge. E.g. Theft was originally a private matter for civil action. Later became part of criminal prosecution.

Roman Law Roman law made distinctions between the status of the individuals (rich or poor, male or female). Also distinctions among the divisions of people. E.g. There were different categories of free people who were treated differently according to their status.

Beliefs Very superstitious people. Adopted Greek Olympian gods and added their own. Top gods were Juno (Hera) and Jupiter (Zeus). Believed in minor deities, werewolves, and magic. Adopted belief in astrology and the signs of the zodiac.

Pontifex Maximus Man in charge of supervising the official religions and calendar. Decided the months and days when various deities would be honoured. Do ut des - “I give so that you might give.” principle of Roman religion. The Romans honoured the gods and practiced animal sacrifice so that the gods would help them in times of crisis.

Family Life Men were the heads of the household. Had complete power over wives, children, and slaves. They had the legal right to abuse and even kill. Women were excluded from politics, but could own property and engage in business. Women’s duty to bear children. Girls as young as 12 were married off to bear children. Males were preferred. Families with 3 or more children were rewarded by the state.

Marriage Purpose of marriage was to continue the family line. Usually arranged by parents. Normal age of marriage was ~15. Two types of marriage: In manum (into the power) Cohabitation

In Manum The authority of the father was handed to the husband. Daughter was symbolically sold to the bridegroom.

Cohabitation Most common by end of Republic. A couple simply agreed to live together and once they did so, were considered married. To divorce, a messenger was sent telling him/her to take their belongings away. The woman remained legally subject to her father.

Inheritance of Property Most important element in Republican life. Inheritance was through the male line. Women who could not bear males could be divorced. Adoption was common in order to gain a male heir. If an infant was not recognized by its father it could be left for dead in public.

Education Males and females of the patrician class were educated together by a nurse or family tutor until puberty. Between age 7-11 taught to read and write Latin. From age 12-15, learned about language and literature. Males studied rhetoric (logic and persuasive argument) at public lectures at age 16.

Education Upon entering manhood, introduced to public life and led to the Forum dressed in a toga. After this, males expected to serve the interests of the patricians. They had to serve the state first and themselves last. Children of the poorer class received no education at all.