HIS 354 Law and Society in Ancient Athens and Rome

3 hours 

This course will introduce students to concepts of law and legal institutions in ancient Athens and Rome. This is not a course on the fine points of Athenian and Roman law, but rather a broader study of the place of law and legal institutions in Athenian and Roman society. Students will examine sources including law codes, court speeches, and literature to explore law as a means of social ordering and control. The course will also consider various social institutions tasked with creating and enforcing legal standards, including the family, the court of law, and the government. Students should leave with a solid understanding of how Athenians and Romans understood law and its role in society.