Writing Greek law

Bibliographic Information

Writing Greek law

Michael Gagarin

Cambridge University Press, 2008

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Note

Bibliography: p. 262-276

Includes indexes

Contents of Works

  • Law before writing
  • Writing and written laws
  • Why the Greeks wrote laws
  • Why Draco wrote his homicide law
  • Oral and written in Archaic Greek law
  • Writing laws in fifth-century Gortyn
  • Writing the Gortyn Code
  • Writing law in classical Athens
  • Writing Athenian law : a comparative perspective
  • Writing law in Hellenistic Greece

Description and Table of Contents

Description

The use of writing in the development of Greek law was unique. In this comparative study Professor Gagarin shows the reader how Greek law developed and explains why it became so different from the legal systems with which most legal historians are familiar. While other early communities wrote codes of law for academic or propaganda purposes, the Greeks used writing extensively to make their laws available to a relatively large segment of the community. On the other hand, the Greeks made little use of writing in litigation whereas other cultures used it extensively in this area, often putting written documents at the heart of the judicial process. Greek law thereby avoided becoming excessively technical and never saw the development of a specialised legal profession. This book will be of interest to those with an interest in the history of law, as well as ancient historians.

Table of Contents

  • Introduction: writing Greek law
  • 1. Law before writing
  • 2. Writing and written laws
  • 3. Why the Greeks wrote laws
  • 4. Why Draco wrote his homicide law
  • 5. Oral and written in archaic Greek law
  • 6. Writing laws in fifth-century Gortyn
  • 7. Writing the Gortyn code
  • 8. Writing law in classical Athens
  • 9. Writing Athenian law: a comparative perspective
  • 10. Writing law in Hellenistic Greece
  • Conclusion: writing Greek law.

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Details

  • NCID
    BA86923627
  • ISBN
    • 9780521886611
  • LCCN
    2008276073
  • Country Code
    uk
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    enggrc
  • Place of Publication
    Cambridge ; New York
  • Pages/Volumes
    xi, 282 p.
  • Size
    24 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
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