Roman law generally, and the laws pertaining to the Jews in particular, were preserved for posterity as a result of the codification projects associated with the names of Theodosius II, Alarie II, and Justinian.17

These enterprises not only assured the preservation of Roman law into modern times, but also revived the legal force of texts which had been forgotten or lost. In the process they brought about important changes both in their text and content, with the aim of adjusting them to new circumstances. A proper understanding of the role assured by these codifications in the preservation of Roman Law depends on the correct appreciation of their principal characteristics.