What was the Laws of the Twelve tables?

Answer 1

The Law of the Twelve Tables was Rome's first written and published code of law. They were issued in 451 and 450 BC. They were inscribed on bronze tablets. They were hung on boards at the forum and they were written in a simple language to make them easy to understand. They covered matters which now we would call civil and criminal law. They dealt with issues regarding property and damage to property, injury to other persons, marriage, inheritance, family relations and the like. They set punishments and procedures for the arrest of citizens and the conduct of trials. Prior to the Tables, there were only religious laws which priests kept secrets. The proceedings of the senate were not published. This made a lot of room for arbitrary use of power and abuse. Now Roman citizens had a clear set of rules.