Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Term: JUS ANTIQUUM
Definition: Jus antiquum means the old law in Latin. It refers to the traditional law that was developed in the classical period of Roman jurisprudence, which was completed in the second and third centuries. In the later Empire, there were two groups of sources of law: the old traditional law (jus antiquum) and the later law that had sprung from imperial legislation (leges or jus novum). Together, they constituted the whole body of law that existed at the time and represented the result of the entire development of Roman law from the earliest times down to the epoch of the later Empire.
Jus antiquum (pronounced juh-s an-ti-kwuhm) is a Latin term used in Roman law to refer to the old law. It is also known as jus vetus.
During the later Empire, there were two sources of law: jus antiquum and jus novum. Jus antiquum was the old traditional law that had been developed during the classical period of Roman jurisprudence. On the other hand, jus novum was the later law that had emerged from imperial legislation.
These two types of law complemented each other and constituted the entire body of law at the time. They represented the outcome of the entire development of Roman law from the earliest times to the later Empire.
For example, the Twelve Tables, which were the earliest attempt to create a code of law in ancient Rome, are an example of jus antiquum. They were created in 449 BC and were the foundation of Roman law.