Transcript WHPP Unit 1 Section 10 Roman Law

Roman Law
Unit 1 Section 10
TYWL: How were ancient civilizations and empires able to
development, grow and create a lasting impact?
How has conflict and innovation influenced political, religious,
economic and social changes in medieval civilizations?
The Roman Republic
• The Twelve Tables:
• 450 BC 12 bronze tables
• 509 B.C., republic (some officials are
chosen by the people.)
• Senate: Members were
patricians,(members of the landholding
class.)
Attempts to Reform
 Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus-tribunes:
give land & grain to poor & farmers.
 Killed by an anger mob set off by the
senators.
• Plebeians, or common people.
• Elected officials, called tribunes.
– veto, or block, laws.
• US Constitution:
– Senate
• the veto
• checks on political power.
Roman Law
– Civil law applied roman citizens.
– Second system of law: law of nations.
Applied to all people under Roman rule, both
citizens & non-citizens.
– Guilt est. through evidence.
– Judges interpret the laws & make fair decisions.
– Centuries later, basis for legal systems in Europe
& the Americas.
Emperors Vary
• Caligula appointed his favorite horse
as consul.
• Nero persecuted the Christians and
was blamed for setting fire to Rome
• 96 A.D. to 180 A.D. “Good Emperors”
• Hadrian codified Roman law & built a wall
across Britain to hold back attacks.
• Marcus Aurelius
Roman Entertainment
 Circus Maximus: largest race course
for chariots and held gladiator matches
there also. This fun was paid for by the
gov’ts taxes. The gov’t also provided
free grain to the poor. Critics warned
against this policy of “bread and
circuses.”