Law and Empire in Late Antiquity

Jill Harries0521410878, 9780521410878, 9780511001444

Law and Empire is the first systematic treatment in English by a historian of the nature, aims and efficacy of public law in the society of the Later Roman Empire. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the author offers new interpretations of central issues in the study of Roman law–what it was and how effective: contemporary attitudes to torture and punishment, judicial corruption, and the settlement of disputes.

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Table of contents :
Cover……Page 1
Half-title……Page 3
Title……Page 5
Copyright……Page 6
Contents……Page 7
Preface……Page 9
Introduction……Page 13
1 The law of Late Antiquity……Page 18
Confusion and ambiguities? The legal heritage……Page 20
Hadrian and the jurists……Page 26
Constitutions: the emperor and the law……Page 31
Rescripts as law……Page 38
Custom and desuetude……Page 43
2 Making the law……Page 48
In consistory……Page 50
Making the text: the imperial quaestor……Page 54
Suggestio……Page 59
Judges and courts……Page 65
3 The construction of authority……Page 68
‘Magisterium vitae’: the Theodosian Code……Page 71
Acclamation and response……Page 77
Acta publica: the authority of the written word……Page 82
4 The efficacy of law……Page 89
Repetition: law and time……Page 94
Context: law and place……Page 100
Enforcement……Page 105
Efficacy and accountability……Page 108
5 In court……Page 111
Denuntiatio or editio……Page 116
The hearing……Page 119
Appellatio……Page 122
Vice sacra iudicans: Symmachus as Prefect, 384 CE……Page 126
6 Crime and the problem of pain……Page 130
Accusation……Page 131
Quaestio……Page 134
7 Punishment……Page 147
The justifications of punishment……Page 156
8 The corrupt judge……Page 165
Iniuria iudicis……Page 170
The liability of the judge……Page 173
Gratia……Page 175
The accountability of the iudex……Page 179
9 Dispute settlement I: out of court……Page 184
Arbitration……Page 187
Petitions and disputes……Page 196
Negotiation……Page 199
10 Dispute settlement II: episcopalis audientia……Page 203
Conclusion……Page 224
ABBREVIATIONS……Page 229
SECONDARY WORKS……Page 230
Index……Page 239