The Roman law code was written by the Romans about 450 B.C. The code targeted all the romans defining the privileges between the Patricians and the Plebeians. Such is Evidence by table VIII (4) that states that, “If a patron shall have devised any deceit against his client, let him be accursed” (Oliver Thatcher, 1901). From this premise, it is evident that all the Romans were the targeted audiences since the code was guiding the day to day interaction of the Romans.
The main story line includes the court procedures and trials, debt collection, rights of family’s heads over the families, inheritance laws, acquiring, and possession of wealth. It then proceeds to land rights, laws on injury, public and sacred laws, and supplements on masters and plebeians relations. The document is a law code since it establishes the codes of laws that guided the Romans. While writing the document, it is presumed that the Roman society was divided into social classes; privileged and the unprivileged. Therefore, relationship in the society is so guided. Yes, this document is believable because it establishes the common issues that affect any civilization even today. Such issues are put into law to ensure that the society has a way of solving disputes. Some of the issues addressed are also evident today. For example, “If anyone summons a man before the magistrate, he must go” table 1 (1) Thatcher (1901).
I can learn that the Roman society was divided into social classes and also endeavored to use laws in solving disputes. The document offers insights to me on the basics of law in the ancient times. It also influences my views on current laws. The Romans had key interests in economic activities explaining why it established laws on debt collection. Social stratification is also emphasized in the code of laws.
Work cited
Oliver J. Thatcher, ed., The Library of Original Sources (Milwaukee: University Research
Extension Co., 1901), Vol. III: The Roman World, pp. 9-11.
