Legal Definitions - conductio

Conductio

In ancient Roman law, conductio refers to the act of hiring or leasing. It specifically describes the arrangement where one party pays another for the use of their services or property for a specified period or task.

• Hiring a Craftsman: Imagine a Roman citizen commissioning a skilled carpenter to build custom furniture for their villa. The citizen would enter into a conductioagreement, paying the carpenter for their labor and expertise to complete the specific task. This illustrates the hiring of "services," where the carpenter provides their skill and effort in exchange for payment.

• Leasing Agricultural Land: Consider a farmer who does not own land but wishes to cultivate crops for a season. They might enter into a conductio with a wealthy landowner, agreeing to pay a certain amount (either money or a share of the harvest) in exchange for the right to use a specific plot of land for farming. Here, the farmer is "leasing property" from the landowner for a defined period.

• Renting Transportation: A merchant needing to transport goods across a long distance might arrange to hire a wagon and a team of oxen from another individual for a journey. This transaction would also be considered a conductio, as the merchant is "hiring property" (the wagon and oxen) for a temporary period to perform a specific task.