The twelve tables of Rome were the laws of Rome and the foundation for their first written constitution. They outline the basic human rights and create mandates for different situations some bad, some good. The twelve tables were written by and for the two classes of people in Rome at the time,the Patricians and the Plebeians. The Patricians were the upper class, lawmaking, voting, landowning, and ruling people of Rome, they wanted the twelve tables mostly to keep the Plebeians in check and in their own class. The Plebeians were the lower class workers, farmers, ect... Most of the 6th century B.C. was ruled by the Patricians who made laws to keep themselves rich and in power and the Plebeians suffered from this. The plebeians were upset with the current system of laws, they were willing to secede from Rome if they were given an alternative. By the 5th century B.C. they had come to an agreement on the twelve tables.
These laws talked about property, crime, family, theft, marriage and inheritance.The laws tried to be fair on most accounts. These were the first laws written down. They were engraved on stone tablets and put on display at the Forum in the city of Rome, so that everyone could see them and know the laws of Rome. This is assumed to have helped their crime rates and made Rome a better place.
The twelve laws that they had decided on were as follows:
Table I: If a person is summoned to a court, they must go, or they will be taken. If they run they will be captured.
Table II: If a judge or a member of either side is taken ill, or must meet and enemy, etc... The Precedings must end or be postponed.
Table III: A person in debt has 30 days to pay off the debt or the debtor may take the debt back..
Table IV: A child that is born to a deformity must be put to death. any son who is sold by his father into slavery three times may be free from that father.
Table V: If a person dies without a will the nearest male kinsman may inherit their belongings. If a person goes mad, the nearest male kinsman may take their belongings and responsibility for the person.
Table VI: If someone says something is theirs orally, it is theirs. No one is allowed to displace a beam from a building or a vineyard.
Table VII: Property owners are responsible for their own roads where there is right of way, and if it is not kept, people may go where they please.
Table VIII: If someone breaks another mans hand he must pay 300, slaves 150, if a man kills another mans crops he must pay...if you cause injury accidentally, you owe a ram
Table IX: A judge shall be put to death if he is found taking a bribe. A person committing treason shall be put to death.
Table X: No man shall be cremated within a city.
Table XI: marriage between Plabeians and Patricians is prohibited.
Table XII: If a person gives false witness they shall be thrown from the Tarpeian rock
http://romanhistoryhour7.wikispaces.com/1.+2000+BCE+to+450+BCE
http://rome.mrdonn.org/12tables.html
These laws talked about property, crime, family, theft, marriage and inheritance.The laws tried to be fair on most accounts. These were the first laws written down. They were engraved on stone tablets and put on display at the Forum in the city of Rome, so that everyone could see them and know the laws of Rome. This is assumed to have helped their crime rates and made Rome a better place.
The twelve laws that they had decided on were as follows:
Table I: If a person is summoned to a court, they must go, or they will be taken. If they run they will be captured.
Table II: If a judge or a member of either side is taken ill, or must meet and enemy, etc... The Precedings must end or be postponed.
Table III: A person in debt has 30 days to pay off the debt or the debtor may take the debt back..
Table IV: A child that is born to a deformity must be put to death. any son who is sold by his father into slavery three times may be free from that father.
Table V: If a person dies without a will the nearest male kinsman may inherit their belongings. If a person goes mad, the nearest male kinsman may take their belongings and responsibility for the person.
Table VI: If someone says something is theirs orally, it is theirs. No one is allowed to displace a beam from a building or a vineyard.
Table VII: Property owners are responsible for their own roads where there is right of way, and if it is not kept, people may go where they please.
Table VIII: If someone breaks another mans hand he must pay 300, slaves 150, if a man kills another mans crops he must pay...if you cause injury accidentally, you owe a ram
Table IX: A judge shall be put to death if he is found taking a bribe. A person committing treason shall be put to death.
Table X: No man shall be cremated within a city.
Table XI: marriage between Plabeians and Patricians is prohibited.
Table XII: If a person gives false witness they shall be thrown from the Tarpeian rock
http://romanhistoryhour7.wikispaces.com/1.+2000+BCE+to+450+BCE
http://rome.mrdonn.org/12tables.html
