Glencoe World History © 2010

The Twelve Tables

Introduction
The Twelve Tables represent an early attempt by the Romans to form a system of civil law for the Roman Republic. Historians have only found fragments of the tables, but these fragments provide much information about early Roman life and values. Many of the principles covered in the Twelve Tables remain important today. In this activity you will read and interpret the laws.

Destination Title: The Twelve Tables

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Directions

• Read through the information.
• Scroll down the site, and take notes as you scan the text.

Use the information you found to answer the following questions.

1			Why were women required to have a guardian? (Table V)
2			What was the punishment for defrauding a client? (Table VIII)
3			What was required of the courts before a person could be put to death? (Table IX)
4			Other than death, what types of punishment did the tables include?
5			In writing the Twelve Tables, the early Romans were developing legal principles that would endure for centuries. On a separate piece of paper, make a list of ten laws from the tables (most of the tables contain several laws). For each law that you chose, identify the principle(s) you think the Romans were trying to apply. For example, in law IX.6 you may recognize the principle of "innocent until proven guilty."