This book provides an introduction to the legal system of ancient Rome, focusing on the Institutes of Justinian, a foundational text written in the 6th century CE. Drawing on a range of primary sources, the author explores the historical and cultural contexts in which Roman law developed and examines key topics such as property rights, contracts, and criminal law. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.