Justinian's Digest Character and Compilation [Hardcover]

This book is a study of the character and compilation of Justinian's Digest, the main volume of Justinian's Corpus Iuris Civilis (528-534 AD). This is often considered as one of the most influential works in the history of Western culture. It remains significant, partly because it is still a part of the law in six countries in Southern Africa, and partly because of its role in the evolution over fifteen hundred years of the theory and practice of human rights - a theme explored in Professor Honore's previous book studying Ulpian (2nd ed, OUP 2002).

The book gives a detailed account of the probable methods used in the compilation of the Digest and distinguishes the respective roles of imperial ministers, law professors, and advocates. It also examines the broader issues raised by the Digest's creation - how it was conceived by its compilers, its purpose, and its impact.

1. Introduction
2. How Tribonian organised the Compilation of Justinian's Digest
3. The Distribution of Authors and Works to the Committees
4. Editing the Digest
5. Late Arrivals: The Appendix Reconsidered
6. Some Digest Texts of Ulpian Attributed to Paul
Addendum A: Bluhme-Krueger Ordo (updated)
Addendum B: Schedule of displaced texts
Bibliography
Index of Texts

Modern legal systems in the West, together with many beyond that geographical and cultural boundary, are literally inconceivable without the heritage of Roman law. Inconceivable precisely because the basic concepts with which we habitually analyse legal systems, Property, Obligations, Contract, Delict, Persons, Procedure, are all derived from the system of law developed by the Romans in the millennium around the turn of the eras...The Digest is a fundamental part of the legal and cultural heritage of modern Europe. One, amongst a number, of Tony Honore's lifetime achievements has been to deepen immensely our understanding of its nature.
--Andrew Lewis, The Modern Law Review

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