Roman Law in Context

Description

This book explains how Roman law worked for those who lived by it, by viewing it in the light of the society and economy in which it operated. Written in an accessible style with the minimum of legal technicality, the book is designed for students and teachers of Roman history as well as interested general readers. Topics covered include the family and inheritance, property and the use of land, business and commercial transactions, and litigation. In this second edition, all chapters have been extensively revised and updated, and a new chapter on crime and punishment has been included. The book ends with an epilogue covering the fate of Roman law in medieval and modern Europe. David Johnston is a lawyer practising in the courts and draws on his experience of law in practice to shape the work and provide new insights for his readers.

David Johnston is a Queen's Counsel who practises in Scotland mainly in the field of public law. He was previously Regius Professor of Civil Law in the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Christ's College. He is an honorary professor at Edinburgh Law School and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His other publications include works on both Roman and modern law, in particular The Roman Law of Trusts (1988) and Prescription and Limitation (2nd ed., 2012).