University of Cambridge, Faculty of Law

Civil Law I (Tripos)

Syllabus
  1. Sources of law. Legal development through the grant of new remedies: praetor and iudex under the formulary system. The jurists. The revival of Roman law.
  2. Persons. An outline of the legal position of the household and of marriage in Roman Law.
  3. Property. Categories of things in Roman law. Dominium, possession and bonitary ownership. Acquisition of ownership: delivery, usucapion, occupation, accession, specification. Rights in another’s property: servitudes, usufructs, real security.
  4. Obligations. Contracts, quasi-contracts, and delicts in Roman law.
  5. Succession. An outline of intestate and testamentary succession in Roman law; Roman inheritance and heirship; freedom of testation.
    Particular emphasis will be placed on property and obligations.
    The Roman law with which the course is principally concerned is the law of the classical period, but significant later developments will be noted.
    Comparisons with other legal systems will be drawn where appropriate.