5.10.1 Roman law Over 1200 years, many changes affected Roman society, especially in law and religion. When Etruscan kings ruled, laws were based on their decisions. In the Roman Republic, written laws were needed to ensure fairness. In 451 BCE, ten Roman citizens recorded the laws. These became the Twelve Tables (see SOURCE2 ) and focused on citizens’ rights.
SkillBuilder discussion Using historical sources 1. Read SOURCE2 .What does ‘Table IV, law 2’ speak about? 2. Which law prevented marriages between plebeians and patricians? What does this mean? 3. What can be concluded from Table IV, law 2?
SOURCE2 Three laws from the Twelve Tables
Table IV, law 2: If a father sell his son three times, the son shall be free from his father. Table V, law 1: Females shall remain in guardianship [under the control of their fathers] even when they have attained their majority [became adults]. Table XI, law 1: Marriages should not take place between plebeians and patricians.
As Rome grew, new laws were added for everyday life, covering crime, property, trade and politics. The rich often used bribery (see SOURCE3 ).
SOURCE3 From the Roman writer, Petronius, who lived in the ýrst century CE
What use are laws when money calls the tunes and people without a gentleman’s income have no real rights at all?
Changing laws Over the centuries, Roman law changed in many ways. This included decisions by magistrates, Senate decrees, assembly votes and orders from emperors. For example, in 212 CE, Emperor Caracalla gave citizenship to all free people. Laws also became kinder to women, children and the poor. 5.10.2 Roman religion The Romans believed in many gods and goddesses. They accepted other religions as long as people honoured the Roman emperor. Roman religion focused on rituals for protection, rather than rules for living or beliefs about an afterlife. Roman state religion Ancient Romans built temples for their gods and held rituals and festivals with music and animal sacriýces. Families also had shrines at home for their household gods. Romans believed that it was important to know the will of the gods before political decisions were made. People thought the gods sent signs called ‘omens’. They used divination to read these signs, using animal entrails, dice and astrology and consulting oracles.
TOPIC5 Ancient Rome 161
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