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The Roman Empire dominated much of Europe for many centuries, and Roman law greatly
influenced the development of modern law in Western Europe.
Roman Law (Applying The Law, Gibson, p. 12)
Roman law, the legal system that began in early Rome, became the basis of law for
Western Europe, except England. As the Roman Empire grew, the number of laws increased
and they became more complex. The Romans created a profession devoted to the study of
legal matters. This marked the beginning of law, as we know it today, and the role of lawyers.
By the year 100 C.E., the Roman Empire had spread over much of Europe, and it remained
intact until the 5th century. As a result, Roman laws influenced most European countries.
However, the emperor Constantine transferred the capital of the Empire to Byzantium, in
what is now Turkey, in 324 C.E. Th_ Byzantine emperor Justinian (527-564 C.E.) codified 1000
years of Roman laws and produced what is known as the Justinian Code. The Code was a
collection of past laws, opinions from leading Roman legal experts, and new laws enacted by
Justinian. These laws emphasized equity: the idea that law should be fair and just, and that all
people are equal under the law, regardless of their wealth and power.
In 1804, after the French Revolution, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte revised French law,
which had been based on Roman law and the Justinian Code. This new set of civil laws was
called the Napoleonic Code, or the French
Civil Code.
It also emphasized equity and justice for
all. Because Napoleon conquered much of Europe in the early
1800s,
this new set of laws
became a model for many European countries. Today, it is the basis of law in many modern
democratic countries. In Quebec, civil law is stiU based on the Napoleonic Code.
Review Your Understanding:
1. What is the Justinian Code?
2. Explain the significance of the French Civil Code to the development of Canadian law.
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