INTRODUCTION

No system of law can remain static. The law develops through time. Roman law developed through various means. During the Monarchy, the main source was customary law, supplemented by royal decrees, although we un­fortunately know little of the content of the law during this period. With the demise of the Monarchy, other means of developing the law had to be found. This chapter looks at the three main sources of legal development: juristic interpretation; rules created by the urban praetor; and legislation. It finishes by looking at Justinian’s great compilation ofthe law, the Corpus luris Civilis (itself enacted as legislation).