-
Jan 1, 604
The Seventeen Article Constitution of Japan
The Seventeen Articles of Japan outline moral principles for the people of Japan. These articles were heavily based on the Confucian principles of justice, decorum and diligence. They sought to return Japan to a fair and just state -
Jan 1, 653
T'ang Code
The T'ang Code was put into place after the king of Ch'in united China. It was a revision of existing Chinese codes and outlined crimes and their punishments. -
Jan 1, 700
Fingerprinting is Invented
Fingerprinting was invented by the Chinese and was used as a means of identification. Much like in todays crime scene investigation, in ancient China it was also very common to examine fingerprints, handprints and footprints to find the culprit -
Jan 1, 1100
First Law School
In medieval Italy a law teacher named Irnerius was extremely famous for his knowledge of Corpus Juris. He was in such high demand that he had to hire other teachers to help him teach all his pupils, leading to the revival of Roman Law in Europe. -
The English Bill of Rights
The English BIll of Rights was one of the most key documents outlining English constitutional law. It prevented things such as raising taxes without Parliament's approval and freedom from cruel and unusual punishments -
The Salem Witch Trials
The Salem Witch Trials were a key event in American history where a group of young women were accused of practicing witchcraft. When the news broke out, mass hysteria and paranoia spread. It was a judicial nightmare and many innocents were executed. -
South Carolina Slave Code
This code moderated the use of slaves and was essentially the basis upon which other states established their own laws on the usage of slaves. This code was accepted until the American Civil War when it was repealed -
Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England
Blackstone's Commentaries were essentially translations of the laws of England from complex English to simple, easy-to-read English so that the common man could attain this knowledge. Also, they served as a sort of textbook for law students and they also served as a reference for many American colonies. -
The American Declaration of Independence
The American Declaration of Independence cut any ties that America had with Great Britain. It stated that "every man is created equal" and is entitled to the essential rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. -
Justinian's Code
Justinian's Code was nota new legaol code but rather it was a collection of old Roman laws along with a few of Justinian I's new laws.Many ideas from his code are still being used today and they form the basis of modern civil law
