Law and Citizenship

Question 1

Origins of Roman Law

Answer 1

12 tables - available to all - largely constructed
private law - actions between citizens, all equal before law
public law- actions between individuals and the state
law of the land - universal principles, applicable to everyone eg murder

Question 2

Changes in Law

Answer 2

move towards common law than statutory - based on precedent
authority concentrated in one individual - becomes binding law
know so much from law codes of justinian etc

Question 3

Provinces and Governors

Answer 3

role of governor to ensure peace, taxes, petitions and punishment
didnt deal with education, social welfare economy etc
reactive figure - not proactive
spends a lot of time travelling
eg Pliny the Younger
extremely corrupt - bribery etc
role different depending on region - but mean to be intermediaries

Question 4

City States and Legal Pluralism

Answer 4

spread of urbanisation
rome - italian states - latin communities - colonies - peregrine states
pluralism - the ability to use multiple law codes simultaneously
rome happy to allow this if it worked for both parties
governors could leave local law to deal with things, or step in with roman law
usually handled citizenship, capital case and high value cases - eg Jesus

Question 5

Citizenship

Answer 5

gives access to different laws
provided security from mistreatment
exemption from some taxes
right to serve in legions
social mobility - although can be assumed not for most
women could own property, sue, obtain divorce
therefore very beneficial thing

Question 6

ways to become a citizen

Answer 6

birth
manumission - some rights, children had full rights
service - military or administrative
personal grants eg Pliny - importance of patronage
communal grants
due to diversity of citizenship, diversity of office is eventually widened

Question 7

Constitutio Antoniniana

Answer 7

212 AD
under Caracalla
grants citizenship to all free inhabitants
could have been for money
could have been in thanksgiving for being saved
huge historiographical debate

Question 8

Sources

Answer 8

Constitution Antoniniana - edict by caracalla
Cassius Dio - opinion of Caracalla and grant
Pliny Letters - citizenship granted to many, only after approval