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Jan 1, 604
The Seventeen Article Constitution of Japan
Though called a constitution, the document created by Prince Shotoku in reality solely sets for seventeen laws/principles that were to apply on a national scale. The focus of the law is preventing disputes, as is typical in "Oriental Law". These laws were instated while the country was still developing, and so had a big impact on shaping the country. http://www.sarudama.com/japanese_history/jushichijokenpo.shtml -
Jan 1, 653
T'ang Code
In compiling previously successful laws/regulations and newly created laws that were more definitive, the T'ang code helped China to maintain its unity. It is considered "the oldest and most influential extant statuary code in China". Though it was altered with time, the "vocabulary, structure, and principles" presented in the Code provided a good starting point. http://www.jstor.org/stable/845280 -
Jan 1, 700
Fingerprinting is invented
There is proof that the individuality of fingerprints was recognized thousands of years ago by people accross the globe. The Chinese were the first recorded as using the technique of fingerprenting Initially used to use as a signature to ensure legitimacy of legal documents or criminal confessions, they soon linked fingerprinting to solving crime as well. http://www.slideshare.net/wllanos/history-of-fingerprints -
Jan 1, 1100
First Law School
One particularily popular teacher of law (Irnerius) in medieval Italy had to hire other teachers to help him teach all of the students who came to him wishing to learn about law, thus creating the first law school in the world. The school grew to have over 10,000 students from all over the world. This, in turn, led to the spread of Roman Law throughout Europe. http://www2.unibo.it/avl/english/story/story5.htm -
The English Bill of Rights
Having learnt from the horrible abuses of power committed by James II, England introduced this bill of rights to ensure that the King would remain subject to laws created by the Parliament. The Bill of RIghts is self-described as "an Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Settling the Succession of the Crown". Another important change it made can be found in the limitation of the right to raise money through taxation to Parliament. http://www.humanistictexts.org/English_Rig -
Salem Witch Trials
Considered a "travesty of justice" and numbering amongst the most famous court cases in US history, the Salem Witch Trials resulted in the death of 20 individuals. Each had been among the hundreds accused of witchcraft as a craze of superstition swept accross Salem Village, and these horribly unlucky 20 were actually convicted in the judicial frenzy. http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SAL_ACCT.HTM -
South Carolina Slave Code
South Carolina has always been a slave colony, but the South Carolina Slave Code, also known as the 'Negro Act' took away almost all of the few existing rights. This meant that they had no protection under the law. The legislation was taken up as an example for slavery laws in other states as well, and was not repealed until the American Civil War. -
The Constitution of the United States of America
The US constitution forms the framework of the country's government and is the supreme law of the United States. It is the second-oldest written constitution still in use in the entire world. Perhaps in part because of this, many other countries (particularily ones working towards democracy) have based their own constitutions of off it. http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/ -
The Thirteenth Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the US as a legal institution, stating that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction". It came as a result of the civil war. http://www.greatamericanhistory.net/amendment.htm -
Justinian's Code
Created by a commision of 10 people selected by Emporer Justinian, Justinian Code served the purpose of uniting all Roman law under one code with four sections. These four sections consisted of The Institutes, The Digest, The Codex, and The Novels. Consisting of early Roman laws and legal principles (illustrated with cases and combined with explanations), Justinian code went on to be the basis of law in contemporary society. http://www.canadianlawsite.ca/JustinianCode.htm
