Why do we need

laws?
6.C&G.1.4 Compare the role and evolution of laws and legal
systems in various civilizations, societies and regions
6.H.1.2 Summarize the literal meaning of historical
documents in order to establish context.
 Objective
We will compare different laws from
ancient civilizations and the USA to see
what their purpose was/is and how they
have changed over time.
What is the purpose of laws? What clues do
these pictures provide?
Discussion Question: What is the
purpose of laws?
•Provide justice
•Provide protections
•Punish those who commit crimes
•Keep order in a civilization
What makes a law just?
Explore the following ancient sets of
laws and ask yourself:
Were they just?
Mesopotamia (Babylon)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9xmRDgh5aw

Important People
• King Hammurabi
• Unified Babylonian city-states
• Provided justice
• Spread the idea of law
Major Concepts
• Hammurabi’s Code
• Laws written down
• Punishments included
• “eye for an eye,” but not for
equal between social classes.
Rome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18LduklUu3M
Important People
• Patricians and Plebeians
Major Concepts
• 12 Tables
• Laws written down so both the
patricians and plebeians knew
them and had to follow them
• People of same status had equal
rights
• Presumed innocent before being
guilty
• Guilt had to be determined by
evidence
• Could face your accuser
• Judges should interpret the law to
be sure of fairness
Byzantine Empire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70si9RQGa_M
Important People
• The Emperor Justinian
Major Concepts
• Justinian Code
• Had legal experts put together
old Roman laws into a single
written law code
• Served as the legal basis for
criminal justice, marriage,
property, slavery and women’s
rights (equality under the law)
• Served as the basis for laws for
the next 900 years!
Medieval England
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xo4tUMdAMw
Important People
• King John
• Barons (nobles)
Major Concepts
• Magna Carta written to stop
the king from abusing his
power (limits power of king)
• Gives king a set of rules to
follow
• Allowed for fair trial (of
freemen only)
• Stood as a symbol of liberty
• Charter was dismissed by
Pope and retried several
times, finally added to
English law lasting 800 yrs.
 Discuss this with your partner.
• In what ways did laws change over time?
• Which legal systems do you think were
most beneficial to the people of their
societies?
• Which legal systems do you think were
most beneficial to the leaders of these
societies?
• Be prepared to defend your answers!