Law in ancient Greece and Rome

The absolutism of power in the monarch was typical of legal systems until the time of the Greeks around 300 B.C. Before the Greeks people believed that their laws were given to them by gods, represented by their kings. The Greek system emphasized that law was made by man, for man, and could be changed by man. Instead of being an instrument of total social control of the whole population by a monarch, the law was to serve peace and prosperity of the people.

In the year of 621 B.C., Draco, Athenian lawgiver, drew up Greece's first written code of laws. This harsh legal code punished both trivial and serious crimes in Athens with death. The word draconian (безжалостный) is still used to describe repressive legal measures.

In 594 B.C. Solon, Athens' lawgiver, repealed Draco's code and published new laws, retaining only Draco's homicide statutes. He revised every statute except that on homicide and made Athenian law more humane. He also retained an ancient Greek tradition - trial by jury. Enslaving debtors was prohibited, along with most of the harsh punishments of Draco's code. Under Solon's law citizens of Athens could be elected to the assembly and courts were established in which citizens could appeal against government decisions.