{"id":2893,"date":"2023-03-18T21:04:40","date_gmt":"2023-03-18T20:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=2893"},"modified":"2023-03-18T21:04:40","modified_gmt":"2023-03-18T20:04:40","slug":"did-ancient-rome-have-trials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/did-ancient-rome-have-trials\/","title":{"rendered":"Did ancient rome have trials?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ancient Rome is one of the oldest complex societies developed in western Eurasia. It flourished as a republic from c. 1000 BCE to c. 509 BCE. After lasting until around the end of the Republic (27 BCE – 14 CE), it had a crisis with the unification of most of the Mediterranean basin by the Roman state. It had an even greater crisis with the formal and administrative foundation of the government of Italica by Augustus in 285 CE. Modern historians have revised the idea that Ancient Rome was far behind the Greek city in term of formulating a constructive and performative legal procedure. Rome had different “courts” dealing with various aspects of the law. Although Roman law was not based on a system of precedent like the English common law, it did have some kind of “precedent” in the form of the Twelve Tables, which was used to resolve disputes.<\/p>\n

Although there is no direct evidence, it is generally believed that ancient Rome did have some form of trial process. The Roman legal system was heavily influenced by the Greeks, who themselves had a long tradition of using trials to settle disputes. Given this, it is likely that the Romans adopted some form of trial system in which defendants could present their case before a panel of judges. This would have allowed for a fair and objective determination of guilt or innocence.<\/p>\n

What were Roman trials like? <\/h2>\n

There were few rules of evidence in ancient Rome, and both oral and written evidence were permitted. The plaintiff had the burden of proof and the trial consisted of alternating speeches by the two advocates, after which the judge gave his decision.<\/p>\n

Trials in the Roman Republic were held in a variety of locations, depending on the type of case and the status of the accused. Trials were first held in the open air at the tribunal of the praetor in the Forum, but after 184 BC, often in the basilicas around the Forum. More serious cases were tried in the comitium, the open-air space in front of the Curia, or in one of the temples on the Capitoline Hill. The Senate could also try cases, although this was relatively rare.<\/p>\n

Did ancient Rome have a court system <\/h3>\n