1. Why do we need laws?
6.C&G.1.4 Compare the role and evolution of laws and legal systems in various civilizations, societies and regions
6.H.1.2 Summarize the literal meaning of historical documents in order to establish context.

2. Objective
We will compare different laws from ancient civilizations and the USA to see what their purpose was/is and how they have changed over time.

3. What is the purpose of laws? What clues do these pictures provide?

4. Discussion Question: What is the purpose of laws?
Provide justice
Provide protections
Punish those who commit crimes
Keep order in a civilization

5. Explore the following ancient sets of laws and ask yourself:
What makes a law just?
Explore the following ancient sets of laws and ask yourself:
Were they just?

6. Mesopotamia (Babylon) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9xmRDgh5aw
Important People
King Hammurabi
Unified Babylonian city-states
Provided justice
Spread the idea of law
Major Concepts
Hammurabi’s Code
Laws written down
Punishments included
“eye for an eye,” but not for equal between social classes.

7. Rome https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18LduklUu3M
Important People
Patricians and Plebeians
Major Concepts
12 Tables
Laws written down so both the patricians and plebeians knew them and had to follow them
People of same status had equal rights
Presumed innocent before being guilty
Guilt had to be determined by evidence
Could face your accuser
Judges should interpret the law to be sure of fairness

8. Byzantine Empire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70si9RQGa_M
Important People
The Emperor Justinian
Major Concepts
Justinian Code
Had legal experts put together old Roman laws into a single written law code
Served as the legal basis for criminal justice, marriage, property, slavery and women’s rights (equality under the law)
Served as the basis for laws for the next 900 years!

9. Medieval England https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xo4tUMdAMw
Important People
King John
Barons (nobles)
Major Concepts
Magna Carta written to stop the king from abusing his power (limits power of king)
Gives king a set of rules to follow
Allowed for fair trial (of freemen only)
Stood as a symbol of liberty
Charter was dismissed by Pope and retried several times, finally added to English law lasting 800 yrs.

10. Discuss this with your partner.
In what ways did laws change over time?
Which legal systems do you think were most beneficial to the people of their societies?
Which legal systems do you think were most beneficial to the leaders of these societies?
Be prepared to defend your answers!