CLASSICS 2LW3 Midterm: Pre-Classical Roman Law
28 Jun 2018
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PRE-CLASSICAL ROMAN LAW
323 BC - Wars of the Diadochoi in the wake of Alexander the Great's death, marking the beginning of
Hellenistic period, which lasts until
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31 BC - Battle of Actium
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27 BC - Augustus becomes the first Roman Emperor, marking the end of Rome's conquest of the
Mediterranean Sea Mare Nostrum, leading to a period of consolidation of annexed territory
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286 - 27 BC - Macedonian and Roman Expansion
367 - Leges Liciniae Sextiae, the Licinian Rogations
Limits on interest rates of loans and restriction of private land ownership
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Plebeian consulship, where one of the two consuls MUST be plebeian
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Introduction of the praetorship as a major judicial figure in Rome
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The transition from the early Republic to the mid-late Republic and archaic legal period to the pre-classical legal
period is marked by the Leges Liciniae Sextiae. These legal and constitutional reforms named for plebeian
tributes Gaius Licinius Stolo and Lucius Sextius Lateranus instituted:
This did not end the Conflict of the Orders, which lasted until the passing of the Lex Hortensia.
Italian Expansion
343 - 341 BC - First Samnite War
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341 - 338 BC - Latin War
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326 - 304 BC - Second Samnite War
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298 - 290 BC - Third Samnite War
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Romans demanded troops, not tribute, so defeated peoples became allies socii, which gave Rome
much of its military manpower
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Two consular armies consisted entirely of Italians, not Romans
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There were social, political, and legal consequences for war, including cursus honorum for the patricians,
and booty for the plebeians
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Pyrrhic victories at Heraclea and Asculum for Epirus led to its entrance into the Roman Empire
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Though more Romans were killed, they were greater in number and could replenish their forces
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280 - 275 BC - Pyrrhic War between Epirus and Rome
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"Citizens of the own" municipia and colonies coloniae had Roman citizenship and partial "Latin
right" ius Latii which granted fewer rights than full Roman citizens from Rome in that they couldn't
serve in the legion, or vote in the Roman assembly; all had three rights:
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ius commercium allowing land ownership in any Latin citizens, and the legal enforcemeant of
contracts with other citizens as a form of commercial law
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ius connubium allowing lawful marriage with residents of Latin cities
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Romans typically settled veterans in new colonies, while coloniae were essentially garrisons
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ius migrationis allowing Latins to acquire citizenship in any Latin city by taking up residence
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From this arose a cosmopolitan Italian state defined by an Italian identity, instead of a parochial
city state system
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Roman citizenship was divided into levels:
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The Roman masses and elite shared a common interest in war and expansion, which ameliorated the Struggle of
the Orders. The civic symbol of the Romans became the "doors of Janus," the god of duality, who represented
the beginning and end of war and peace.
264 - 146 BC - Punic Wars between Rome and the Phoenicians
1000 BC - Phoenician colonization begins, with the foundation of Carthage in 800 BC
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264 - 241 BC - First Punic War results in the defeat of Carthage in Sicily, and the creation of Rome's first
province provincia, creating issues of foreign governance
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Further Roman expansion took it across the Mediterranean, into Spain, France, North Africa, and the
Levant
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Rome, Syracuse, and Carthage struggled for control over the Messana. The Carthaginian Empire held the
northern African coast, southern Spain, Sardinia, Corsica, and western Sicily.
Provincial Administration
With the creation of provinces came the need for a constitution for provinces leges provinciae. Provinces were
governed by former magistrates who held the "power to command" imperium. These included:
Pre-Classical Roman Law
November 14, 2017
4:49 PM
Ancient Law Page 1
Document Summary
286 - 27 bc - macedonian and roman expansion. 323 bc - wars of the diadochoi in the wake of alexander the great"s death, marking the beginning of. 27 bc - augustus becomes the first roman emperor, marking the end of rome"s conquest of the. Mediterranean sea mare nostrum, leading to a period of consolidation of annexed territory. 367 - leges liciniae sextiae, the licinian rogations. The transition from the early republic to the mid-late republic and archaic legal period to the pre-classical legal period is marked by the leges liciniae sextiae. These legal and constitutional reforms named for plebeian tributes gaius licinius stolo and lucius sextius lateranus instituted: Limits on interest rates of loans and restriction of private land ownership. Plebeian consulship, where one of the two consuls must be plebeian. Introduction of the praetorship as a major judicial figure in rome.
