The Twelve Tables
The Twelve Tables were Roman laws publicly displayed for everyone to see. They were eventually destroyed, but
the ones listed below were well documented.
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1. Civil Procedures
If someone is accused and
called to go to court, he
must go.
He may send a witness in
his stead.
4. The Rights of Patriarchs
• A child born with a
deformity shall be killed
• Parents may sell their
children into slavery
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7. Real Property
If a person’s road or
building causes damage to
someone else’s property,
they must pay for the
damage
10. Funeral Rites
No man shall be buried or
cremated within the city
Women may not mourn
loudly, or slap their cheeks,
or tear their clothes during
a funeral
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2. Civil Procedures
If a person needs a witness
he may go to their door
every third day and call for
them.
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5. Inheritance
Women shall always be
given a male guardian to
accompany them
If a person goes insane, he
shall not have power over
his own goods
8. Crimes
If a court witness lies, he
shall be thrown off a cliff
If a person gossips publicly
they shall be clubbed to
death
11. Marriage Laws
Marriages between
patricians and plebeians are
forbidden
Men in the army must
complete their training
before marrying
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3. Debt
A person has 30 days to
pay their debt
After 30 days, he may be
put in chains
After 60 he may be sold
into slavery or executed
6. Property
Promises or verbal
contracts are considered
binding
If a man and woman live
together for a year, they
are considered married
9. Constitutional Principles
• A man cannot be put to
death without first being
found guilty in court
• A judge found guilty of
taking a bribe will be put
to death
12. Punishments
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8 Forms of Punishment:
fines, placing in chains,
whipping, inflicting same
injury as given, public
humiliation, city
banishment, slavery, death
1. Which laws surprised you and why?
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2. Which law would you be the most afraid of breaking?
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3. Which of these laws do you think the USA borrowed from for its legal code?
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