ELEMENTA IURIS ROMANI: A Systematic Treatise in the Classical Tradition (Roman Law Series)

Rediscover the Foundations of Legal Science.Roman law is not merely a historical curiosity; it is the structural grammar of the modern civilian tradition. In this first volume of a definitive two-part treatise, Cornelis van Houte provides a systematic and comprehensive exploration of the Law of Persons, Property, and Possession.Moving beyond the fragmented nature of the Digest, this work employs a deductive method—proceeding from governing definitions and ordered divisions to particular rules and concrete applications. Each chapter begins with a foundational Latin proposition, followed by a rigorous conceptual analysis that traces the evolution of legal institutions from the classical period through their reception in modern European codes like the French Code civil and the German BGB.Inside Volume I, you will find:The Foundations of Law: A deep dive into ius naturale, ius gentium, and ius civile, exploring the ethical axioms and tripartite divisions that underpin Western jurisprudence.The Sources of Authority: Detailed analysis of the Corpus Iuris Civilis, the authority of the classical jurists (Papinian, Ulpian, Paul), and the creative tension between civil and praetorian law.Law of Persons: An examination of legal personality, status, freedom, slavery, and the intricate structures of the Roman family, including marriage and paternal power.Law of Property and Possession: A sophisticated breakdown of the classification of things (res), the requirements for possession (animus and corpus), and the modes of acquiring ownership and real security rights.Written in English while preserving the precise Latin terminology essential for primary source research, this volume is an indispensable tool for anyone seeking to master the analytical categories that continue to shape global legal systems.Volume II will cover Obligations, Succession, and Civil Procedure. Read more