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1772 BCE
Hammurabi's Code
Hammurabi was a Babylonian king who reigned over Babylon from 1792 - 1750 BCE. In 1772 BCE, he developed a set of 300 laws that discussed a wide range of subjects. Punishments were prescribed very harshly for general crimes, such as receiving the death penalty for robbery. Social class was also an essential factor for determining sentences. Hammurabi’s set of laws was the first to be written down, written on a stele, and placed in every major city. -
1772 BCE
Hammurabi's Code (2)
We have adopted two big ideas: prescribed punishments and a codified (written down) set of laws. These laws allowed for the ability to keep justice and the legal rights of all citizens in place. The laws were easier to enforce and agreed upon by the masses, and nobody was an exception. Because these were the earliest written laws, it is thought that Hammurabi’s code served as a model for future generations and as the basis for our laws today. -
527
The Justinian Code (2)
The code contained just over 4000 laws spanning four books. The books included laws from the previous empires that were still deemed valid, summarized opinions of scholars and judges about the rules and their applications, instructions on how to use them, and any newly passed laws. These laws were friendlier in punishment compared to Hammurabi’s. For example, if you break someone’s bone, you can pay a monetary fine instead of having your bone broken. -
527
The Justinian Code (3)
Justinian’s wife was progressive and influential, often making laws equaling men and women. Such laws included ones fairer to women, even outlining property laws. Our laws today embody a few features of the Justinian Code, including an emphasized equality under the law. The Justinian Code is considered the basis of Civil Law and was used as the foundation of legal systems for many European countries. -
527
The Justinian Code
Justinian I ruled over the Byzantine Empire, and in 527 AD, he began to plan ways to make the empire better than the Roman Empire had been in the past. He realized that the old roman laws that came before him were a mess to navigate and enforce, so he organized them and made them accessible to all citizens of the Byzantine Empire. Justinian chose ten men to review 1600 books of Roman Law, which they used to create a more specific legal code, the Justinian Code. -
1066
Feudalism and Common Law (2)
Eleven people would swear an oath stating that the accused was innocent, and they would be so if the judge were satisfied. However, if the accuser produced eleven witnesses of higher rank to testify against the accused, he would be deemed guilty. A form of this system survives to this day in our legal system: a twelve-person jury still decides the innocence or guilt of an accused person, and at many trials, witnesses are used as well. -
1066
Feudalism and Common Law (3)
When common law was first introduced around the same time, the king established a team of judges to roam the country and settle cases with the help of previous laws and decisions, called a precedent. This helped them make decisions and was called Case Law. Common Law was implemented in the Americas when colonization began and is still used today, using the same process. Though not all precedents are reasonable, it allows everyone to predict what the outcome may be for their case. -
1066
Feudalism and Common Law
In 1066, William I conquered England and established the Feudal System. Kings would own land and divide it among his lords, which would be divided among the lord’s vassals. The hierarchy was a big deal in the early Middle Ages. If vassals broke the law, their lord would decide their punishment, which led to a disorganized system. When a case was complicated, an ordeal would proceed, and God would choose the verdict. Another form of establishing innocence or guilt was compurgation. -
1190
The Great Law of Peace (3)
Their weapons were buried under the Tree of Peace, and constant war was no more unless it was for self-defence. Some practices used today that were transferred from the Haudenosaunee Confederacy is that Canada focuses on peace rather than war and defence for our nation. -
1190
The Great Law of Peace (2)
Still, the Onondaga was reluctant and loved to war with their neighbours, thanks to Tadodaho, the nation’s leader. A large meeting was finally held, and they convinced Tadodaho to join in peace and become the leader of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Their constitution was written on wampum belts which were split into 117 articles. -
1190
The Great Law of Peace
Between 1190 and 1451, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy was formed between five nations in eastern Canada: the Kanienkehaka, Onondaga, Cayuga, Oneida, and the Seneca. The Tuscarora people joined later, in 1722. The nations constantly fought in war until, one day, Hiawatha decided he wanted to build an alliance of peace between all five nations. Hiawatha, Jigonseseh, and The Peacemaker convinced four nations to band together. -
1215
The Magna Carta (2)
The first British Parliament was created in 1265 and helped to develop laws known as statutes. We still use a parliament today, adopted from Britain, to design and revise laws. -
1215
The Magna Carta
In 1215, King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta, a charter that introduced the Rule of Law in England. The Magna Carta stated that everyone had to follow the law, including the king, who couldn’t abuse his subjects or remove their rights. This also introduced the idea of Habeas Corpus, which entitled people to a trial after being accused of a crime, such as assault or murder. -
The French Civil Code
The Napoleonic Code is the French Civil Code established in 1804 and is written down statute law, as opposed to common law, which is based on customs, usage, and precedent. The code put an end to how laws varied across the French provinces. The code aimed to make a clearly written and accessible law, replacing the previous patchwork of feudal laws. Quebec is the only province in Canada that follows a civil code modelled after the Napoleonic Code, while the rest of Canada uses Common Law.