Roman Law
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
This course aims to make students achieve the knowledge of the institutions of Roman private law and civil procedure within a historical perspective, and also the knowledge of fundamental elements of development of the Roman legal experience.
Expected learning outcomes
- Capacity for synthesis and for coordinating the institutions of Roman law within a dynamic view of the legal phenomena;
- Capacity for making links through recovery of the historical roots of various modern legal institutions;
- Capacity for deepening the acquired knowledge, also through a direct comparison with the main legal and literary sources;
- Learning and using concepts and an appropriate legal Language.
- Capacity for making links through recovery of the historical roots of various modern legal institutions;
- Capacity for deepening the acquired knowledge, also through a direct comparison with the main legal and literary sources;
- Learning and using concepts and an appropriate legal Language.
Lesson period: Activity scheduled over several sessions (see Course syllabus and organization section for more detailed information).
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Surname A-C
Responsible
Lesson period
year
GIUR-15/A - Roman Law and Foundations of European Law - University credits: 14
Lessons: 98 hours
Shifts:
Surname D-L
Responsible
Lesson period
year
GIUR-15/A - Roman Law and Foundations of European Law - University credits: 14
Lessons: 98 hours
Professors:
Bartocci Ugo, Pepe Laura
Shifts:
Surname M-Q
Responsible
Lesson period
year
Course syllabus
Institutions of Roman Law studies the legal rules that regulated the lives of Roman citizens for more than one thousand four hundred years: since the foundation of Rome (753 BCE) until the death of Justinian (565 CE). It therefore offers the possibility to follow the changes of a legal system that - although loyal to its principles - knew how to profoundly modify itself and adapt to social, economic and political changes that transformed the burg of shepherds into an Empire that dominated the world. But the fundamental importance of Roman law in legal studies is tied to the influence that Justinian law had on the formation of laws in a large part of modern European countries (and in some extra-European countries). Indeed, over a series of occurrences, the principles, concepts and many precepts of Roman law were absorbed by the legal codes of these countries, making the study of Roman law an essential part of legal education even today.
Analytical program:
General part: Historical introduction to Roman law - Sources of law - Law of persons, family and marriage - Acts - Private trial - Obligations - Rights in rem - Successions. In-depth part: Reading of texts by Roman jurists on the subject of querela inofficiosi testamenti.
Analytical program:
General part: Historical introduction to Roman law - Sources of law - Law of persons, family and marriage - Acts - Private trial - Obligations - Rights in rem - Successions. In-depth part: Reading of texts by Roman jurists on the subject of querela inofficiosi testamenti.
Prerequisites for admission
The course has no specific prerequisites.
Teaching methods
Frontal instruction.
Teaching Resources
M. Marrone, Manuale di diritto privato romano, Torino: Giappichelli, 2004.
J.-D. Rodríguez Martín, Il pretore disperato, Torino: Giappichelli, 2026.
Integration program:
a) 3 CFU:
L. Gagliardi, Studi sulla legittimazione alla "querela inofficiosi testamenti" in diritto romano e bizantino, Milano: Giuffrè, 2017, pp. 1-60.
b) 6 CFU:
- law of persons
- family law and marriage
- successions and donation
on M. Marrone, Manuale di diritto privato romano, Torino: Giappichelli, 2004 (chapters: 4, 7, 8).
Moreover:
I. Fargnoli, M. De Bernardi, Percorsi di diritto romano tra personae, res e actiones, Torino, 2017.
c) 8 CFU:
- law of persons
- family law and marriage
- successions and donation
on M. Marrone, Manuale di diritto privato romano, Torino: Giappichelli, 2004 (chapters: 4, 7, 8).
Moreover:
I. Fargnoli, M. De Bernardi, Percorsi di diritto romano tra personae, res e actiones, Torino, 2017 or L. Gagliardi, Studi sulla legittimazione alla "querela inofficiosi testamenti" in diritto romano e bizantino, Milano: Giuffrè, 2017, p. 1-60,
and
P. Ferretti, Racconti romanistici. Il diritto romano in dodici casi, Giappichelli 2024
For integrations the exam is only written.
J.-D. Rodríguez Martín, Il pretore disperato, Torino: Giappichelli, 2026.
Integration program:
a) 3 CFU:
L. Gagliardi, Studi sulla legittimazione alla "querela inofficiosi testamenti" in diritto romano e bizantino, Milano: Giuffrè, 2017, pp. 1-60.
b) 6 CFU:
- law of persons
- family law and marriage
- successions and donation
on M. Marrone, Manuale di diritto privato romano, Torino: Giappichelli, 2004 (chapters: 4, 7, 8).
Moreover:
I. Fargnoli, M. De Bernardi, Percorsi di diritto romano tra personae, res e actiones, Torino, 2017.
c) 8 CFU:
- law of persons
- family law and marriage
- successions and donation
on M. Marrone, Manuale di diritto privato romano, Torino: Giappichelli, 2004 (chapters: 4, 7, 8).
Moreover:
I. Fargnoli, M. De Bernardi, Percorsi di diritto romano tra personae, res e actiones, Torino, 2017 or L. Gagliardi, Studi sulla legittimazione alla "querela inofficiosi testamenti" in diritto romano e bizantino, Milano: Giuffrè, 2017, p. 1-60,
and
P. Ferretti, Racconti romanistici. Il diritto romano in dodici casi, Giappichelli 2024
For integrations the exam is only written.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination will consist of a mandatory written test, which may be followed by an optional oral examination. The written test will consist of four open-ended questions and must be completed within 80 minutes.
The students will receive the grade of the written exam (expressed in 30/30) by email. At that point, every student will decide between accepting through the SIFA system the grade of the written exam or take an oral exam 3/7 days after the written exam. The final grade (again expressed in 30/30) will be based on the weighted average between written and oral exam. In case of no-choice, the grade of the written exam will be considered definitive. Students with a failing grade in the written exam will not be admitted to the oral exam.
The exam will test students' in-depth knowledge and comprehension of the course contents. In addition to knowledge and understanding of the course material, students will be evaluated according to their ability to appropriately express themselves and effectively communicate technical legal concepts.
The exam can only be taken after the end of the second semester of the course (end of the second semester of the first year). There are no partial exams or pre-exams.
For integrations, the exam is only written.
The students will receive the grade of the written exam (expressed in 30/30) by email. At that point, every student will decide between accepting through the SIFA system the grade of the written exam or take an oral exam 3/7 days after the written exam. The final grade (again expressed in 30/30) will be based on the weighted average between written and oral exam. In case of no-choice, the grade of the written exam will be considered definitive. Students with a failing grade in the written exam will not be admitted to the oral exam.
The exam will test students' in-depth knowledge and comprehension of the course contents. In addition to knowledge and understanding of the course material, students will be evaluated according to their ability to appropriately express themselves and effectively communicate technical legal concepts.
The exam can only be taken after the end of the second semester of the course (end of the second semester of the first year). There are no partial exams or pre-exams.
For integrations, the exam is only written.
GIUR-15/A - Roman Law and Foundations of European Law - University credits: 14
Lessons: 98 hours
Professor:
Gagliardi Lorenzo
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Gagliardi LorenzoSurname R-Z
Responsible
Lesson period
year
GIUR-15/A - Roman Law and Foundations of European Law - University credits: 14
Lessons: 98 hours
Professor:
Donadio Nunzia
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Donadio NunziaProfessor(s)
Reception:
Email
Sezione di Diritto Romano
Reception:
Thurs 9.00-10.30
dipartimento di diritto privato e storia del diritto - 1 floor
Reception:
Wednesday, 1 PM
Department of Private Law and Legal History - 1° floor - [email protected]
Reception:
Office hours: Thursday 10 am. Please always write an email in advance in order to get an appointment: [email protected]
Sezione di Diritto Romano or Teams