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Roman law: Home

Purpose of this guide

This guide is intended for students and researchers studying Roman law at the University of Oxford, although students and researchers from any field may find it useful.

Use this guide to find out about sources and commentary for Roman law, including ebooks, ejournals, and databases.

Roman law overview

Roman law was the law of ancient Rome from the founding of Rome in 753 BCE to the fall of the Western Empire in 476 CE.  Roman law continued in the Eastern Empire until 1453 CE.  It is the basis for the legal system of most continental European countries.

This Guide classes sources originally written before 1000 CE as “ancient” sources; all other sources are classed as “modern” sources.

Subject Guide

Key libraries

Related Bodleian Guides