Principles of Roman Law
PROF. LAURETTA MAGANZANI
COURSE AIM
The course aim is to teach students the Private Law basics of Roman legal system
by means of the direct reading of legal Roman Law sources, so that pupils can
correctly master the legal terminology and learn how to approach and solve
concrete cases using the methods employed by Roman jurists.
COURSE CONTENT
After a wide introduction to Roman Law sources and in particular to Justinian
Corpus Iuris Civilis, the course will deal with Roman Law fondamental principles
following the scheme adopted by Justinian in his Institutes, that are the elementary
textbook used in Constantinople Faculty of Law during the sixth century AD.
Being a model of simplicity and academic rigour, this textbook will be, for the
students, the very first approach to Roman Private Law, facilitating the learning of
jurists concepts and technical language. Roman caselaw will also be studied.
READING LIST
For the first part (First part, for everyone):
L. MAGANZANI, Formazione e vicende di un’opera illustre. Il Corpus Iuris nella cultura del giurista
europeo, Giappichelli, Turin, latest edition, (pp. 3 - 99).
For the second part:
(For students who attend lectures)
A. MANTELLO, Diritto privato romano. Lezioni, vol. 1 and 2, Giappichelli, Torino, 2009-2012.
(For students who don’t attend lectures)
B. BIONDI, Istituzioni di diritto romano, Milano (latest ed.).
Or
M. BRUTTI, Il diritto privato dell’antica Roma, Torino, (latest ed.) (except the chapters on Law
sources and on private civil trial).
TEACHING METHOD
Lectures and tutorials.
ASSESSMENT METHOD
Final oral examination.
NOTES
More specific details on the course content and reading list will be given during the
lectures.
Further information can be found on the lecturer's webpage at
http://docenti.unicatt.it/web/searchByName.do?language=ENG or on the Faculty notice
board.