Roman law

Roman law, the legal system of Rome from the supposed founding of the city in 753 BC to the fall of the Byzantine Empire in AD 1453; it was later adopted as the basis of modern civil law. Most authorities, however, disregard the largely static period following the reign of Justinian I (527–65).

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Early Roman Law
• Expansion and Development
• Under the Empire
• Continuing Influence
• Bibliography

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Law: Divisions and Codes