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Babylonian King Hammurabi's enacted laws in 1750 BCE. These helped keep legal rights of everyone in place. King Hammurabi created law for all subjects: stealing, lying, and murder. He wrote Hammurabi's code in Babylon (now Iraq). Hammurabi code believed in an eye for an eye. This code was very violent there were 30+ laws that listed the death penalty as punishment. Hammurabi code plays a role in our current legal system, both were used to keep order in society, using prescribed punishment. -
In 550 CE emperor Justinian wanted to organize Roman laws and make them more accessible to all citizens of the byzantine empire. Emperor Justinian recreated 10 men to review 1,600 books full of Roman laws. These men were then created the Justinian code. A lot of the laws in this code were written in the point of view of his wife, Theodora. She persuaded her husband to create laws improving women's rights. This code impacted our current legal system by emphasizing equality under the law.
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The Great law of Peace was established in 1190.It was formed by the peacemaker and Hiawatha in North America. These laws were not written down but were transmitted by means of wampum symbols. The great law of peace consisted of six nations: Mo hawk, Onondaga, Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora people. The Great Law of Peace has a huge impact on our current legal system, both use the same construction structure. For a new law to be created it must go through many leaves of parliament. -
The Magna Carta was a document introduced in 1215 in Runnymede, it said everyone had to follow the law and the king could not abuse his subjects. Parliament helped create these laws known as statutes and statute, laws that are passed by the government. the Magna Carta also paved the way for the habeas corps. The Magna Carta has a large impact in our current legal system both emphasize freedom, justice, and human rights. This document stated the limits of the king in writing just like now.
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The Napoleonic code was created in 1804. This code was enacted by corps Le'gilatif and signed by Napol'eon Bonaparte. It took away women's individual rights and limited the rights of illegitimate children. Citizens that were made were granted reestablished. The Napoleonic code spit civil law into two categories: property and family. still to this day Nepoleonic code influences Canadian legal system. Quebec is the only province with civil code not common law unlike the rest of Canada. -
In 1880 the King established a team of judges that would travel the country setting cases. The judges would judges would rely on previous laws and decisions (precedent) to help make decisions, this is called common law. Precedent allows everyone to look back and predict what can happen in a case. The monarch can appeal decisions made by the judges. Still to this day lawyers and judges use common law and precedent, they still go back and reflect on old cases.
