Roman Law and the Legal World of the Romans

In this book, Andrew Riggsby surveys the main areas of Roman law, and their place in Roman life.

Andrew M. Riggsby (Author)

9780521687119, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 14 June 2010

294 pages
22.9 x 15 x 2 cm, 0.4 kg

'… Riggsby has successfully undertaken a near impossible task: to explain, in a little over 200 pages, a highly sophisticated, complex and sometimes idiosyncratic system of law. It will be most useful as a first text for students of Roman law, prior to commencing their course (summer reading perhaps). … A work such as this will draw more (not fewer) people to the pleasures of Roman law, and for this Professor Riggsby deserves both congratulations and thanks.' Cambridge Law Review

In this book, Andrew Riggsby offers a survey of the main areas of Roman law, both substantive and procedural, and how the legal world interacted with the rest of Roman life. Emphasising basic concepts, he recounts its historical development and focuses in particular on the later Republic and early centuries of the Roman Empire. The volume is designed as an introductory work, with brief chapters that will be accessible to college students with little knowledge of legal matters or Roman antiquity. The text is also free of technical language and Latin terminology. It can be used in courses on Roman law, Roman history, or comparative law, but it will also serve as a useful reference for more advanced students and scholars.

1. Introduction
2. Roman history - the brief version
3. Sources of Roman law
4. Sources for Roman law
5. The legal professions
6. Legal education
7. Social control
8. Legal (in)equality
9. Writing and the law
10. Status
11. Civil procedure
12. Contract
13. Ownership and possession
14. Other rights over property
15. Inheritance
16. Women and property
17. Family law
18. Delict
19. Crimes and punishments
20. Religious law
21. Law in the provinces
22. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Legal history [LAZ], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]