Unit name | Roman Law |
---|---|
Unit code | LAWD20046 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | I/5 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
Unit director | Professor. Julian Rivers |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Roman Law is arguably the most significant aspect of the classical world’s influence on Western civilisation. To a greater or lesser extent it has affected every modern legal system and it still provides a globally-recognised set of ideas. This unit aims to introduce students to the basic elements of Roman Law as set out in the Institutes of Gaius and Justinian. It seeks to do so in a way which combines (1) the analytical reconstruction of Roman Law’s conceptual system with (2) the recognition of change and development over the course of Roman Law’s long history, and (3) the role of law in the varied economic and social contexts of the many places it touched.
In particular this unit covers the history and sources of Roman Law; the law of persons: status, citizenship and slavery, marriage, family and children; the law of things: interests in property, the acquisition and loss of proprietary interests, and the law of death and inheritance; the law of obligations: contract and delict; the law of actions: litigation and the legal system; and Roman Law in the modern world.
No prior knowledge of Latin is required. Students will not be asked to translate original texts or comment on sections of original material. However, they should expect to become familiar with Latin basic technical terms and be able to explain their meaning (see Learning Outcome (1) below).
By studying this unit, students will be able to:
Teaching will be delivered through a variety of asynchronous and synchronous activities
1 x summative assessment: coursework with a specified word count (100%)
The assessment will assess all of the intended learning outcomes for this unit.