The historical sources of law

Vocabulary notes:

to inscribe	вкрити письменами
to comply	здійснювати
to eliminate	знешкоджувати
to be concerned about/with	турбуватися/ займатися
a jurist	юрист, адвокат
a hand-book	інструкція
to spread over	розповсюдитись
to be influenced by	попасти під вплив
to establish	засновувати, організувати
to reveal	показати, розкрити
thriving	процвітаючий
to set out	викласти (у збірці)
to wander	мандрувати
Hebrew faith	іудейська віра
community	комуна, суспільство
to recount	налічувати, перераховувати
to arrange	систематизувати
to undergo	зазнавати
a set of laws	збірка законів
to experience influences	зазнати впливу
hereditary	успадкований
to remain intact	залишатися без змін
commandments	заповіді
to preside over	очолювати
to hold a central position	посідати центральне місце
to be in use	знаходитись у дії
to sack	пограбувати

Task 1. Read the text consulting a dictionary where necessary and pick out the main points about the sources of law in Great Britain.

ROMAN LAW

In modern-day Italy, France, Spain, and the countries of Latin America, law codes based on Roman legal principle are still in use. Law in the modern English-speaking countries was also greatly influenced by Roman Law.

The earliest Roman code of laws, the Law of the Twelve Tables, was written between 451 BC¹ and 449 BC. Tradition has it that its authors were a council of ten men who had been selected to rule the Roman state. The Law of the Twelve Tables covered all citizens. It was inscribed on twelve bronze tables set up in the Forum for everyone to see. The Law of the Twelve Tables remained in use for over 1000 years, though the bronze tables were destroyed when Rome was sacked in 410 AD²

The second great set of Roman laws, the Justinian Code, was complied under the direction of Justinian, Emperor of Rome from 483 to 565 AD. Justinian was concerned with elimination of corruption and making justice available to everyone. He established a commission to consolidate the mass of early Roman law. The resulting Code consisted of four works:

all the imperial edicts³;

the Digest⁴, the decision of the great Roman jurists;

the Institutes⁵, which served as a hand-book for law students;

the Novels⁶, or “new laws”, passed by Justinian himself.

By 100 AD, the Roman empire had spread over much of Europe. It remained intact until the fifth century AD. As a result, the laws of all European countries, including France and England, were much influenced by the two Roman codes. However, each experienced other influences as well. The law of France underwent further changes in the late eighteenth century, when Napoleon Bonaparte compiled the Code of Napoleon.

England was ruled by Rome from 55 BC until the early fifth century AD. Therefore, the English system also has Roman law as part of its hereditary roots.

Text notes: ¹Before Christ - до нашої ери / до нової ери

²Anno Domini - нашої ери

³edicts - едикти, укази

⁴the Digest - Дигести

⁵the Institutes - Інституції

⁶ the Novels – Новели