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1750 BCE
Hammurabis Code
It is a set of laws that were enacted by the Babylonian King Hammurabi in 1750 BC. The laws were written on tablets and placed in ares everyone could see. General violations of the law were punished harshly. if someone stole and were found guilty they would have the hand cut off. No one was immune to the law during these times. Hammurabis Code served as a model for later legal systems. -
529
Justinian Code
Shortly after Justinian became emperor in 527 he decided to repair the legal system. The code lasted Justinians rule from 529- 565. The code was broken into four parts Codex, Digest, Institutes, and the Novellae. It consisted of both private law and also public law. It's impact in todays society id that we still have common law and private law. -
1066
Feudal System
The Feudal System was established by William, Duke of Normandy, after he took over England. The King owned all the land and if a vassal broke a law his lord would decide how to proceed. The king established a team of judges that would roam the country and settle cases. They would rely on previous laws and decision to help decide a case. This is called case law and is still used in today's legal system to help make decisions on cases. -
Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is a charter of liberties forced upon King John of England by the barons, it is a document that constitutes a fundamental guarantee of rights and privileges. it was agreed upon near Windsor, on 15 June 1215. It protected the barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice and limited feudal payments to the Crown. It's impact on the current system is that no one is above the law. It also influenced the jury in today's society by letting them be tried by a group of peers. -
1451
The Great Law of Peace
The Great Law of Peace was a treaty that united the five Iroquois nations. The treaty was shown by a wumpum belt with two boxes either side of a white pine representing the five nations. It was formed by Kayanesenh Paul Williams. The law preserved and protected the independence of each individual, each clan, and each nation. The three main principles were Righteousness, Health, and Power. The Great Law of Peace later helped form the U.S Constitution.
