Professor: Andrew Riggsby
Time/place: MWF 11-12, GAR 203
OH: MTW 1-2 (and by appointment), WAG 207
Phone: 1-5742
URL: http://www.dla.utexas.edu/depts/classics/faculty/Riggsby/348.html
Description: From L.A. Law to the Simpson trial (or watching Court TV), we are a society obsessed with the law. Most of the major social issues of our day are eventually played out in court. The ancient Romans shared this passion for the law, as well as the drive to specify the precise rights and position of each individual by means of law. This course will study the ways in which Roman law and the rest of Roman society shape each other. This course will fall into two halves. In the first half we will work through Bruce Frier's Casebook on the law of delict (an area falling between civil and criminal law) to get an idea of how Roman law works, what its sources are, what issues it is (and is not concerned with), etc. In the second have we will consider specific topics in other areas of Roman law with a view to putting them in broader historical context. How do sectional interests (class, gender, etc.) shape law? To what extent is law driven by formal, internal factors? Do the concepts which our legal system takes for granted (e.g. "crime") also exist in ancient Rome? What areas did the Romans feel needed to be legally regulated in the first place? All readings will be in English translation.
Grading: Grades will be based on eight 1-page case write-ups (24% total), a 10-12 pp. final paper on a broader topic (36%), and two hour exams (40% total). There will be no separate exam during finals period. The grade on the final paper will be based on submission of both a draft and a final version. Conversion of numerical averages to letter grades will depend on the distribution of averages. This is likely to produce approximately the same results as the standard scale (i.e. 90-100 = A, etc.), but this result is not certain. There will be no make-up work without documentation of serious medical or other emergency. Over-sleeping never counts as an emergency. Standard UT Austin policies on academic dishonesty apply to this course. It is the policy of this department and of the University of Texas at Austin to comply with the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Readings:
J. Crook, Law and Life of Rome (Cornell)
B. Frier, A Casebook on the Roman Law of Delict (Scholars Press)
Justinian, The Digest of Roman Law (Penguin [excerpts])
Course reader (Paradigm Copy, 24th Str.)
Schedule of Assignments:
Week 1: Introduction
Aug. 28: [none]
Aug. 30: Crook, ch. 1, "Twelve Tables"
Week 2: Introduction
Sept. 2: [holiday]
Sept. 4: Crook, ch. 3
Sept. 6: Sample case (to be handed out)
Week 3: Law of Status
Sept. 9: Crook, ch. 2
Week 4: Criminal Law
Sept. 16: Crook, ch. 8
Sept. 18: "Lex Rependundarum", "Lex Iulia de Pecuniis Repetundis"
Sept. 20: "Lex Cornelia de Sicariis et Veneficiis"
Week 5: Criminal Law
Sept. 25: Nippel, "Republican Principles of Policing"
Week 6: Contract
Sept. 30: Crook, ch. 6
Oct. 2: Watson, "The Roman System of Contracts and the Legal Tradition"
Week 7: Inheritance
Oct. 7: Crook, ch. 4
Week 8: Dowry
Oct. 14: Saller, "Dowries and Daughters in Rome"
Oct. 18: First EXAM
Weeks 9-15: Furtum, Iniuria, and the Lex Aquilia
Readings will be assigned daily from Frier.
One case write-up due each week on a day determined by alphabetical order of names.
Nov. 18: Draft of PAPER due
Dec. 6: Second EXAM
Dec. 11: Final PAPER Due
Dictionaries and Other Reference Works
ESL (English as a Second Language)