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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "CL 362"
COURSE NAME: "Roman Law"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2016
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Thomas Govero
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS:
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Junior Standing. Co-requisite: EN 110
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course will examine the development of Roman law from the Twelve Tables through the Justinian Code. Readings and discussions of the political and social conditions of the Roman Republic and Empire will contextualize the study of the evolution of the law. These will include chapters from Livy's History of Rome, Cicero's defense and prosecution oratory, as well as selections from Pliny, Tacitus, and others. There will be considerable secondary readings on special topics. Students will be required to analyze cases in the Roman Law of property, the family, torts (delicts), and personal law. The final part of the course will consider the developments of Roman Law since the Justinian Code in the Civil Law Tradition.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course will examine the development of Roman law from the Twelve Tables through the Justinian Code. Readings and discussions of the political and social conditions of the Roman Republic and Empire will contextualize the study of the evolution of the law. These will include chapters from Livy's History of Rome, Cicero's defense and prosecution oratory, as well as selections from Pliny, Tacitus, and others. There will be considerable secondary readings on special topics. Students will be required to analyze cases in the Roman Law of property, the family, torts (delicts), and personal law. The final part of the course will consider the developments of Roman Law since the Justinian Code in the Civil Law Tradition.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The course will examine the development of Roman law from the Twelve Tables through the Justinian Code. Readings and discussions of the political and social conditions of the Roman Republic and Empire will contextualize the study of the evolution of the law. These will include chapters from Livy's History of Rome, Cicero's defense and prosecution oratory, as well as selections from Pliny, Tacitus, and others. There will be considerable secondary readings on special topics. Students will be required to analyze cases in the Roman Law of property, the family, torts (delicts), and personal law. The final part of the course will consider the developments of Roman Law since the Justinian Code in the Civil Law Tradition.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Roman Law and the Legal World of the RomansAndrew M. RiggsbyCambridge U. Pess978-0-521-68711-9 Almost Corner   
The Digest of Roman LawJustinianPenguin0-14-044343-6 Almost Corner   
Studying Roman LawPaul Du PlessisBristol Classical Press978-1-78093-026-8 Almost Corner   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Midterm paperPaper must be 5 -8 pages analyzing a selected case or law. Further details and possible cases and laws will be distributed.20%
Final Paper: 5 -8 pagesCriteria and Guidelines will be distributed20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cou
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
The course will examine the development of Roman law from the Twelve Tables through the Justinian Code. Readings and discussions of the political and social conditions of the Roman Republic and Empire will contextualize the study of the evolution of the law. These will include chapters from Livy's History of Rome, Cicero's defense and prosecution oratory, as well as selections from Pliny, Tacitus, and others. There will be considerable secondary readings on special topics. Students will be required to analyze cases in the Roman Law of property, the family, torts (delicts), and personal law. The final part of the course will consider the developments of Roman Law since the Justinian Code in the Civil Law Tradition.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Date/Session

Theme/Focus

 Reading

Other Assignments

Other References

1.Mon. Jan. 18-Wed. 20

Review of syllabus, procedures, assignments and evalution.  World legal systems & Roman Civil Law.  Overview of Roman historical periods:  Regnum, Republic, Principate, Dominate.

Riggsby: Introduction & Chapter 2;  S. Riccobono,

“Outlines of the Evolution of Roman Law”

 

Du Plessis:  Chapter 1,

Riggsby:  Chapters 3-5

Justinian,  General Introduction.

 

Rèsumé 1

Di Pietro et al. Spezzatura,

“The Roman Roman Legacy of Law”

2. Mon. Jan 25- Wed. Jan 27

Review of Riggsby and Riccobono.

Roman Law vocabulary, Ius & Lex

Review of Justinian & Du Plessis

Du Plessis, Chapter 1:

“Sources & Methods”

Riggsby, Chapters 3,4

Résumé  2

 

3. Mon. Feb 1-

Wed. Feb 3

Review of Du Plessis & Riggsby

Cicero, De Legibus/On the Laws (selections)

Résumé 3

 

4. Mon. Feb.8-Wed. Feb. 10

Review of Cicero, De Legibus;  Pontifices Maximi and Augurs.  Origins of the law in

Roman religion.  Roman Law in context:

the monarchy and early Republic – social and constitutional background.  Case study no. 1:  “Black Magic, F. Cresimus Defends Himself”

Riggsby:  Chapters 5 -8

Résumé  4

Riggsby, Chap. 9

5. Mon. Feb 15 – Wed. Feb. 17

Review of Riggsby

Sources of Roman Law: Statutes, Edicts of the Magistrates, Juristic Interpretations

Case study no. 2 “Killing a Sister”

Xii Tables; the Law of the Praetor

Nichols & Metzger,

Chap. VII, “Is Naturalis, Ius Civilis, Ius Gentium” p. 54, sec. 1,2, pp 64-76;

Riggsby: Chapter 10

 

 

Midterm Topics, Criteria and Guidelines.  Suggested topics.

6. Mon. Feb. 22-Wed. Feb. 24

Review of Nichols & Metzger; Riggsby

Gaius, The Institutes, Four Commentaries

Status:  Free, Slave, Citizen, Peregrinus,

women, children

 

Résumé  5

Claudius, The Lyon Tablet

7.  Mon. Feb. 29-Wed. March 2 – Friday, March 7

The Law of Persons:  status of citizens (Latin citizens), non-citizens, peregrini

The Roman family, slaves.

Case study no. 3:  Tacitus murder case (Bk 5  Annales)

Riggsby:  Chapter 17,

Du Plessis, Chapter 2

 

“Not cohabitation but consensus constitutes marriage” --Cicero

 

“To some extent I liken slavery to death”--Cicero

8. Mon. March 7 – Wed. March 9

Marriage, Guardianship, Capitiis dominutio

Status of women – inscriptions

Status of slaves – inscriptions

Case study no. 4 “A Dowery  Hunter Loses Out”

Riggsby:  Chapter 12 – 16

Du Plessis, Chapter 3

Résumé 6

 

9. Mon. March 14 – Wed. March 16

Review of Riggsby & Du Plessis

Contracts:  Form and Formula, historical development, informal contracts, discharge of obligations, privity of contract, surety.

Property and Obligations.  Possession.

Modes of acquisition of material things.

Derivative modes and conveyances

 

 

Midterm papers due with

oral presentations

 

10. Mon. March 21- Wed. March 23

Civil modes, prescriptions, original natural modes, servitudes, other iure in re aliena ownership

Du Plessis, Chap 4

Riggsby, Chapter 18,19

Justinian, “The Roman Law of Delicts” pp. 64 - 68

Résumé 7

 

11. Mon. March  28- Friday, April 1

S    P   R   I    N    G             B   R  E  

A   K

 

 

12. Mon. April 4 – Wed. April 6

Review of Du Plessis & Riggsby.

Delicts

Case Study no. 5  Pliny to the Emperor Trajan.

Justinian, “Concerning the Lex Aqulia”  pp. 71 – 102, Riggsby, Chapter 19

Final Paper assignment:

Criteria & Guidelines,

Suggested topics.

Bruce A. Frier, A Casebook of the Roman Law of Delict.

13. Mon. April 11 – Wed. April 13

Delicts & quasi delict: Furtum, inuria, damnum iniuria datum.  Noxal liability.

Review of Ruiggsby

Justinian,  Concerning Theft, Robbery with Violence and Riotous Assembly, Insulting Behavior and Scandalous libel, pp 103 - 158

Résumé 8

 

14. Mon. April 18 – Wed. April 20

Case Study no. 6:  Cicero thwarts the Intrigue of a powerful man.

The Roman Jurists, Ulpian

Equity

 

 

Rather leave the crime of the guilty unpunished than condemn the innocent”—Cicero

“Laws should be interpreted

In a liberal sense so that their intention may be preserved.”—Cicero

“Maxima Lex…Pessima Lex” –

Ulpian

 

“15. Mon. April 25 – Wed. April 27

Public Law:  Law Bestowing Power on

the Principate (Vespasian).

The Constituto Antoniana.

The heritage of Roman Civil Law

 

 

“Corruptissima  Republica….

Plurimae Leges--Tacitus

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final Exam Session:  TBA

Oral Presentation of Final

Papers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quid faciant leges,ubi sola percunia regnat?  

Aut ubi paupertas vincere nulla potest?

Ipsi qu Cynica traducunt tempora pera, non numquam nummis vendere vera solet. Ergo, iudicum nihil est nisi

Publica merces, atque eques in causa sedet, empta probat…..

Petronius

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                        

SessionSession FocusReading AssignmentOther AssignmentMeeting Place/Exam Dates
Monday, January 18 - Wednesday, January 20Review of syllabus, procedures, assignments and evaluation. Overview of Roman historical periods: Regnum, Republic, Principate, Dominate World legal systems and Roman Civil Law: its contributions and influence Roman Law vocabulary (Latin & English). Ius and Lex Riggsby, Introduction & Chapter 2; S. Riccobono, "Outlines of the Evolution of Roman Law. University of Pennsylvania Law Review and American Legal Register, vol. 74, no 1. Rèsumè 1