Romans Flashcards
What is the time period for Romans?
43 AD to 410 AD
Who made the laws in Roman?
Emperor
What crimes did the laws deal with?
All crimes from assassination to theft
What did the laws also try and do except from deal with crimes?
Keep Rome and Britain a clean and better place to live
When and what was the first recorded laws?
Twelve Tables in 450BC
What book brought all the different laws together by Emperor Justinian in AD533?
Digest of the Roman Laws
How would criminals be caught in early Rome?
Victims have to caught them themselves as there was no police force
When did Emperor Augustus introduce the police force?
AD6
What did the vigiles do?
Patrolled at night but main duties was to prevent and put out fires
What did the urban cohorts do?
Stopped riots but did not patrol
What did the praetorian guards do?
Only used in emergencies to protect the Emperor
What did the aediles do?
Kept the streets clean
What was the core of policing?
Riot troops
In Britain the task of policing was taken on by who?
Legionaries
What were some of the minor crimes?
Theft and selling underweight bread
How was minor crime dealt with?
The victim had to find the criminal, collect the evidence and summon the accused to a magistrates court. A judge was then chosen and made a decision based on the evidence put forward from both sides.
What were the major crimes?
Murder
How was major crime dealt with?
Anyone could bring a case to court for trial, both sides gave evidence and the jury decided the verdict. The magistrates then decided the sentence.
How were crimes dealt with in Britain?
Same as in Rome but the victims took the evidence to the local centurion who summoned the accused to court. Magistrates dealt with minor crimes in local courts but all important cases were sent to the Governor’s courts in the chief towns.
Were the punishments harsh or fair? What were the reasonings for this?
Harsh to deter potential criminals and also was much cheaper than employing more police or keeping people in prisons
Most violent punishments were reserved for what crime?
Rebelling against the Empire
What crimes resulted in ordinary Roman citizens to be put to death?
Arson, attacking the Emperor, robbing temples and stealing farm animals
What punishment would ordinary Roman citizens get for minor crimes?
Whipping, repaying the cost of the goods and confiscation of property
What punishment would Nobles get if they committed a serious crime?
Sentenced to death but allowed to go into exile to avoid execution
What happens to a slave when they commit a crime?
Put to fight in Colosseum as gladiators, all slaves in a household crucified if one of them murdered or attempted to murder their master, slaves could give evidence at trails only if they had been tortured first.
What happens to legionaries when they run away in battle?
They face execution and 1 in every 10 men from their legion is chosen and also executed
