Development of Law

The Seventeen Article Constitution of Japan

Apr 3, 604

Seventeen Article ConstitutionPrince Shotoku of Japan wrote a constitution which focuses mainly on morality and how one ought to behave to prevent disputes. He sent able young men to China to learn their language and customs, and set an example to others by going to China himself. He became familiar with Buddhist thoughts and Confucius' teachings, and his constitution is strongly influenced by the latter.

T'ang Code

Jan 1, 653

T'ang CodeThe T'ang Code was a fairly relaxed set of 501 articles designed to create a "live and let live atmosphere." The prohibitions sounded more like suggestions than laws, with no punishments listed for any crimes, and as a result, the military leaders became slack and the borders of the empire shrunk.

First Law School

Jan 1, 1100

University of BolognaThe University of Bologna (Italy) does not have any fixed sites; rather, the teachers go to the students to teach. In the 12th and 13th century, scholars formed guilds to secure protections that individual citizens could not claim. The university taught the Roman Law, especially Justinian's Code. The students, usually able young men, went on to be principals of schools, canons of cathedrals, etc. Women were accepted into the university starting in the 18th century.

Magna Carta

Jun 15, 1215

Magna Carta The Magna Carta was drawn up by Archbishop Stephen Langton and several barons in England in an effort to reduce the power the King of England held, forcing him to govern by old English laws. One of the most important influences of the Magna Carta was on the American Constitution, which forbade slavery or other variations of ownership over a free man.

Salem Witch Trials

Jan 1, 1692

Salem Witch Trials20 men and women were executed as a result of arguably unjust trials. "Evidence" that is forbidden in modern court (gossip, unbacked accusations, hearsay, stories, etc.) were permitted to be used against the supposed witches. The accused were not provided formal legal representation. Often, the parents of sick children would accuse women (both young and old) from families with which they had long-standing feuds.

South Carolina Slave Code

Jan 1, 1740

Slave CodeBlack slavery was legally recognized in 1669, with laws starting to be passed in 1683 to control the growing slave population. In 1690, laws clearly listed the punishments for black slaves who struck a white person, or tried to run away. The freeing of slaves was regulated starting in 1712. The 1740 slave code stripped all black slaves of legal protection. This code limited their behaviour, their clothing, and knowledge. In 1822, a law was passed forbidding free blacks from entering the state.

The American Declaration of Independence

Jul 4, 1776

Declaration of IndependenceThe Declaration of Independence is a statement that severed ties with Great Britain. Prior to the drawing of this document, America was subject to the desires of the king, paying heavy taxes, housing English soldiers, forbidden to trade outside of England, etc. The declaration was drawn by a group of rich, white men, but the rights are intended for all American citizens.

The Geneva Convention

Aug 22, 1864

Geneva ConventionRepresentatives of 13 nations signed the Geneva Convention to agree on the neutrality of ambulaces and military hospitals. Also, at the realization that as technoligy advances, more violent forms of weapons will emerge, the representatives agreed on some rules that regulated a more humane form of warfare. In the following years, many European and South American countries also signed the convention.

The Nuremburg War Crimes Trial

Nov 20, 1945

Nuremburg Trial20 German Nazi leaders went on trial, charged with various war crimes, including "waging a war of aggression, violating the customs of warfare and committing crimes against humanity." Although military laws and orders were prevailant, the court's decision to execute 12 of the men show that moral law still applies in wartimes. The British government initially wanted all the men to be executed, but the Soviet Union and US preferred a legal court process to properly punish the men.

Justinian's Code

Mar 2, 2022

Code of JustinianThe Corpus Juris Civilis was developed by Byzantian emperor Justinian I. Justinian ordered commissions to research all the known law books, modify any contradictory material, remove unnecessary laws, and gather all the important laws into a single code. The entire code consists of 4 books. Justinian's code was written in Latin (with the exception of the last book, which was written in Greek with an official Latin translation), and was available for use in the entire Roman empire.