Law and Empire in Late Antiquity

Jill Harries

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511482809

This is the first systematic treatment in English by an historian of the nature, aims and efficacy of public law in late imperial Roman society from the third to the fifth century AD. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, and using the writings of lawyers and legal anthropologists, as well as those of historians, the book offers new interpretations of central questions: What was the law of late antiquity? How efficacious was late Roman law? What were contemporary attitudes to pain, and the function of punishment? Was the judicial system corrupt? How were disputes settled? Law is analysed as an evolving discipline, within a framework of principles by which even the emperor was bound. While law, through its language, was an expression of imperial power, it was also a means of communication between emperor and subject, and was used by citizens, poor as well as rich, to serve their own ends.

‘This will become a standard work on late Roman law in its social and political context … the main reasoning of her book cannot easily be refuted. It is both a refreshingly thought-provoking study and a lucid introduction to the workings of late Roman law. It should be read by everyone interested in the law, administration and social relations of the Roman Empire.’

Antti Arjava Source: Arctos

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Law and Empire in Late Antiquity

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-iv

Contents
pp v-vi

Preface
pp vii-x

Introduction
pp 1-5

1 - The law of Late Antiquity
pp 6-35

2 - Making the law
pp 36-55

3 - The construction of authority
pp 56-76

4 - The efficacy of law
pp 77-98

5 - In court
pp 99-117

6 - Crime and the problem of pain
pp 118-134

7 - Punishment
pp 135-152

8 - The corrupt judge
pp 153-171

9 - Dispute settlement I: out of court
pp 172-190

10 - Dispute settlement II: episcopalis audientia
pp 191-211

Conclusion
pp 212-216

Bibliography
pp 217-226

Index
pp 227-235

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Law and Empire in Late Antiquity

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