Justinian's Code, also known as the Corpus Juris Civilis, was a collection of laws created under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century. It was made to simplify and organize the many laws that existed at the time. Here’s a simple breakdown:
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Compilation of Laws: Justinian gathered all the old laws and legal writings from before his time. He wanted to make sure everyone understood the laws that governed them.
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Four Parts: The Code has four main parts:
- The Code (Codex): This part includes current laws.
- The Digest (Pandects): This is a summary of legal opinions from past jurists, providing examples of how the laws should be applied.
- The Institutes: A basic textbook for law students, explaining the principles of law.
- The Novellae: These are new laws that were created after Justinian’s Code was established.
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Purpose: The main goal was to make laws clear and fair for everyone, helping judges and citizens know their rights and responsibilities.
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Influence: This code greatly influenced the development of legal systems in many countries, especially in Europe.
In summary, Justinian’s Code was a big effort to make laws clear and organized, so that everyone could understand and follow them better.