Why did Romans wanted their laws written down?

Answer 1

The unwritten laws were known only to the aristocracy who obviously had an advantage over the lower classes, who had to ask an aristocrat to represent them, and thus became his client, owing him political and financial support in recompense.

We have written laws now, but lawyers still want rich rewards for interpreting them.

Answer 2

The unwritten laws were known only to the aristocracy who obviously had an advantage over the lower classes, who had to ask an aristocrat to represent them, and thus became his client, owing him political and financial support in recompense.

We have written laws now, but lawyers still want rich rewards for interpreting them.

Answer 3

Because the patricians (the main people who came up with the laws) only knew the laws and others were afraid of breaking them) Therefore they made an agreement so the laws be written down, so everyone could know them.

Answer 4

Basically, the Romans wanted the laws written so that everyone would know the limits and what was punishable and what was acceptable in Roman society. Written laws also prevented people (in Rome's case, the patricians) from interpreting customs for their own benefit.

The first general law was the Law of the Twelve Tables. Prior to this, people did not know what the laws were supposed to be as there were not any written laws and the minutes of the meetings of the senate nor its decrees were published. This gave room for arbitrary action of the part of the consuls and the patricians. Consuls were also in the habit of ignoring decrees of the senate.

The main factor that led to the creation of the Law of the Twelve Tablets was the revolt by poor plebeians against the abuse of defaulting debtors by the creditors, who imprisoned them, tortured them and sometimes even sold them as slaves. To address such abuse, clear rules about debt and the procedure and conduct of trials were needed. This was one of the issues that this legislation addressed and it provided protections for debtors.