The Twelve Tables
The Twelve Tables were written in order to standardize law as it applies to both patrician and plebeians. Mostly procedural, the law appears to be fair and balanced spelling out the rights that all men have concerning family, land and legal procedures. The Twelve Tables helps paint a picture of an agrarian society where honor, equality and family structure is a valued, component in society. The law, however, strict supports these ideas and gives us an understanding of this archaic, barbaric, agrarian, society where the rule of law was based mostly on an eye for an eye conception.
In order to support the family component of society several tables were written. Here we can get a glimpse of the strength and power of the paterfamilias. As the …show more content…
If a person is summoned to court he must appear, and is expected to on his own accord, no one is to lay a hand on him unless he refuses to show or tries to flee. As already noted being a spendthrift was frowned upon by society and if a person is found to be irresponsible a trustee to his affairs will be appointed. If a person is a debtor he is expected to repay his debt and failure to do so comes with harsh penalties. If a person is found guilty of not repaying a debt, the punishment varies in severity and escalates as time goes by without satisfying the creditor. At first a person is given a grace period, thirty days to repay his debt at the end of thirty days if the debt is not satisfied the debtor is handed over to the creditor where the debtor may be put in stocks or fetters for up to sixty days or until the debt is satisfied. If at the end of sixty days the debt is still not satisfied the debtor will face capital punishment or sold off as a slave. Another example where honor is expected is in Acquisition and Possession where the rules for trade or sales, including slaves or those who are bound are spelled out. When it came to usury or lending of money there was an acceptable percentage that was allowed to be collected probably between 8.33-10 percent and those that took advantage and charged more or defrauded another person was forced to make substantial payments even to a point of
In order to support the family component of society several tables were written. Here we can get a glimpse of the strength and power of the paterfamilias. As the …show more content…
If a person is summoned to court he must appear, and is expected to on his own accord, no one is to lay a hand on him unless he refuses to show or tries to flee. As already noted being a spendthrift was frowned upon by society and if a person is found to be irresponsible a trustee to his affairs will be appointed. If a person is a debtor he is expected to repay his debt and failure to do so comes with harsh penalties. If a person is found guilty of not repaying a debt, the punishment varies in severity and escalates as time goes by without satisfying the creditor. At first a person is given a grace period, thirty days to repay his debt at the end of thirty days if the debt is not satisfied the debtor is handed over to the creditor where the debtor may be put in stocks or fetters for up to sixty days or until the debt is satisfied. If at the end of sixty days the debt is still not satisfied the debtor will face capital punishment or sold off as a slave. Another example where honor is expected is in Acquisition and Possession where the rules for trade or sales, including slaves or those who are bound are spelled out. When it came to usury or lending of money there was an acceptable percentage that was allowed to be collected probably between 8.33-10 percent and those that took advantage and charged more or defrauded another person was forced to make substantial payments even to a point of