Volume 1

Theodor Mommsen's influential multi-volume work, first published between 1871 and 1888, is a systematic treatment of the intricate workings of the Roman state. The renowned German scholar proposed an original and sometimes controversial understanding of Roman institutions, based around the categories of nineteenth-century constitutional law. The Romans themselves never actually codified their complicated body of law, but by applying a historical approach to describe the development of Roman law Mommsen succeeds in making it more accessible to the reader. He systematises the many diverse legal elements upon which the Roman constitution was based and offers a coherent reading of it. In Volume 1 Mommsen focuses on the system of local government and describes in detail how it functioned. He explains the protection offered by the Pontifex maximus and the authority held by the civil and criminal courts, as well as the civil rights given to each community.

Volume 1

The classical historian Theodor Mommsen (1817-1903) published his History of Rome between 1854 and 1856. His work was received with widespread acclaim by the scholarly community and the reading public. In 1902, in recognition of this monumental work, Mommsen was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and acclaimed as 'the greatest living master of the art of historical writing'. Mommsen rejected traditional Enlightenment accounts, which glorified ancient Rome; instead, guided by a new and rigorous criticism of sources, he began the demythologisation of Roman history. In a vivacious and engaging style, using modern terms to express classical ideas, Mommsen drew bold parallels between the nineteenth century and classical Rome. Volume 1 begins with Rome's earliest origins and ends with the unification of Italy; it contains separate chapters on religion, law and justice, art, and writing. This 1862 translation is based on the German third edition (1861).

Volume 2

Theodor Mommsen's influential multi-volume work, first published between 1871 and 1888, is a systematic treatment of the intricate workings of the Roman state. The renowned German scholar proposed an original and sometimes controversial understanding of Roman institutions, based around the categories of nineteenth-century constitutional law. The Romans themselves never actually codified their complicated body of law, but by applying a historical approach to describe the development of Roman law Mommsen succeeds in making it more accessible to the reader. He systematises the many diverse legal elements upon which the Roman constitution was based and offers a coherent reading of it. In Volume 2, Part 1 the author focuses on individual roles and appointments within the legislature, from the pontifex and the consuls to the tribune and the questors, as well as legates and other officials.

Volume 2

The classical historian Theodor Mommsen (1817-1903) published his History of Rome between 1854 and 1856. His work was received with widespread acclaim by the scholarly community and the reading public. In 1902, in recognition of this monumental work, Mommsen was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and acclaimed as 'the greatest living master of the art of historical writing'. Mommsen rejected traditional Enlightenment accounts, which glorified ancient Rome; instead, guided by a new and rigorous criticism of sources, he began the demythologisation of Roman history. In a vivacious and engaging style, using modern terms to express classical ideas, Mommsen drew bold parallels between the nineteenth century and classical Rome. Volume 2 covers the period from the unification of Italy to the subjugation of Carthage and the Greek States. This English translation, first published in 1862, is based on the German third edition (1861).

Volume 3

Roemisches Staatsrecht

by Theodor Mommsen

Published 8 April 2010
Theodor Mommsen's influential multi-volume work, first published between 1871 and 1888, is a systematic treatment of the intricate workings of the Roman state. The renowned German scholar proposed an original and sometimes controversial understanding of Roman institutions, based around the categories of nineteenth-century constitutional law. The Romans themselves never actually codified their complicated body of law, but by applying a historical approach to describe the development of Roman law Mommsen succeeds in making it more accessible to the reader. He systematises the many diverse legal elements upon which the Roman constitution was based and offers a coherent reading of it. Volume 3, Part 2 focuses mainly on the Roman Senate. Mommsen lists the number of senators, the process by which they were elected and their qualifications. He describes the Senate's rights, duties and protocol, and its jurisdiction and influence in various spheres within Rome and across the empire.

Volume 3

The classical historian Theodor Mommsen (1817-1903) published his monumental History of Rome between 1854 and 1856. His work was received with widespread acclaim by the scholarly community and the reading public. In 1902 Mommsen was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and acclaimed as 'the greatest living master of the art of historical writing'. Mommsen rejected traditional Enlightenment accounts, which glorified ancient Rome; instead, guided by a new and rigorous criticism of sources, Mommsen began the demythologisation of Roman history. In a vivacious and engaging style, Mommsen drew bold parallels between the nineteenth century and classical Rome. Volume 3 covers the turbulent period from the reforms of Tiberius Gracchus to the death of Sulla, with separate chapters on nationality, religion and education, and the Roman economy. This English translation, first published in 1863, is based on the German third edition (1861).

Volume 4

The classical historian Theodor Mommsen (1817-1903) published his History of Rome between 1854 and 1856. His work was received with widespread acclaim by the scholarly community and the reading public. In 1902 Mommsen was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and acclaimed as 'the greatest living master of the art of historical writing'. Mommsen rejected traditional Enlightenment accounts, which glorified ancient Rome; instead, guided by a new and rigorous criticism of sources, he began the demythologisation of Roman history. In a vivacious and engaging style, Mommsen drew bold parallels between the nineteenth century and classical Rome. Volume 4 covers the establishment of the military monarchy; this English translation, first published in 1866, corresponds to the fourth edition of the German third volume. Part 2 begins with Pompey and Julius Caesar and ends with the battle of Thapsus. In this reissue, the index to the entire work is also included.

Volume 4

The classical historian Theodor Mommsen (1817-1903) published his monumental History of Rome between 1854 and 1856. His work was received with widespread acclaim by the scholarly community and the reading public. In 1902 Mommsen was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and acclaimed as 'the greatest living master of the art of historical writing'. Mommsen rejected traditional Enlightenment accounts, which glorified ancient Rome; instead, guided by a new and rigorous criticism of sources, he began the demythologisation of Roman history. In a vivacious and engaging style, Mommsen drew bold parallels between the nineteenth century and classical Rome. Volume 4 covers the establishment of the military monarchy; this English translation, first published in 1866, corresponds to the fourth edition of the German third volume. Part 1 begins with the death of Sulla and ends with the subjugation of the West.

Theodor Mommsen's influential multi-volume work, first published between 1871 and 1888, is a systematic treatment of the intricate workings of the Roman state. The renowned German scholar proposed an original and sometimes controversial understanding of Roman institutions, based around the categories of nineteenth-century constitutional law. The Romans themselves never actually codified their complicated body of law, but by applying a historical approach to describe the development of Roman law Mommsen succeeds in making it more accessible to the reader. He systematises the many diverse legal elements upon which the Roman constitution was based and offers a coherent reading of it.

Roemisches Strafrecht was first published in 1899 and complements Mommsen's earlier, monumental study of Roman constitutional law. Applying the same historical method, he attributes the evolution of criminal law to the demise of the Roman Republic. The book, here reissued in two volumes, is divided into five main sections. The first discusses the nature of criminal law. Mommsen next looks at the institutions involved in administering criminal law, and the roles of different officials within them. He identifies three types of trial: trial by magistrate alone, trial by magistrate and comitia, and trial by jury, and describes their stages from the courtroom process to the pronouncement of sentence. Sections 4 and 5 in the second volume consider particular crimes, from murder to theft, and explain the possibilities for appeal and the different categories of sentences, which range from the death penalty to fines.

The classical scholar and historian Theodor Mommsen (1817-1903) published his monumental History of Rome between 1854 and 1856. His work was received with widespread acclaim by the scholarly community and the reading public. In 1902 Mommsen was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature and acclaimed as 'the greatest living master of the art of historical writing'. Mommsen rejected traditional Enlightenment critiques, which glorified ancient Rome; instead, guided by a new and rigorous criticism of sources, Mommsen began the demythologisation of Roman history. In a vivacious and engaging style, employing modern terms to render classical ideas, Mommsen drew bold parallels between the nineteenth century and classical Rome. This English translation of his History appeared in five volumes between 1862 and 1866. In this reissue, the final volume also contains the index to the entire work, originally published separately in 1875, nine years after the translation itself was completed.

Theodor Mommsen's influential multi-volume work, first published between 1871 and 1888, is a systematic treatment of the intricate workings of the Roman state. The renowned German scholar proposed an original and sometimes controversial understanding of Roman institutions, based around the categories of nineteenth-century constitutional law. The Romans themselves never actually codified their complicated body of law, but by applying a historical approach to describe the development of Roman law Mommsen succeeds in making it more accessible to the reader. He systematises the many diverse legal elements upon which the Roman constitution was based and offers a coherent reading of it. In Volume 3, Part 1 Mommsen gives a detailed account of the various economic and social categories of Roman citizens and subjects, including senators, patricians, plebs, freed slaves, and non-Roman inhabitants of the empire.

Roemisches Strafrecht was first published in 1899 and complements Mommsen's earlier, monumental study of Roman constitutional law. Applying the same historical method, he attributes the evolution of criminal law to the demise of the Roman Republic. The book, here reissued in two volumes, is divided into five main sections. The first discusses the nature of criminal law. Mommsen next looks at the institutions involved in administering criminal law, and the roles of different officials within them. He identifies three types of trial: trial by magistrate alone, trial by magistrate and comitia, and trial by jury, and describes their stages from the courtroom process to the pronouncement of sentence. Sections 4 and 5, in the second volume, consider particular crimes, from treason or murder to heresy, rape and theft, and explain the possibilities for appeal and the different categories of sentences ranging from the death penalty or exile to fines.

Roemisches Strafrecht was first published in 1899 and complements Mommsen's earlier, monumental study of Roman constitutional law. Applying the same historical method, he attributes the evolution of criminal law to the demise of the Roman Republic. The book, here reissued in two volumes, is divided into five main sections. The first discusses the nature of criminal law. Mommsen next looks at the institutions involved in administering criminal law, and the roles of different officials within them. He identifies three types of trial: trial by magistrate alone, trial by magistrate and comitia, and trial by jury, and describes their stages from the courtroom process to the pronouncement of sentence. Sections 4 and 5, in the second volume, consider particular crimes, from treason or murder to heresy, rape and theft, and explain the possibilities for appeal and the different categories of sentences ranging from the death penalty or exile to fines.

Theodor Mommsen's influential multi-volume work, first published between 1871 and 1888, is a systematic treatment of the intricate workings of the Roman state. The renowned German scholar proposed an original and sometimes controversial understanding of Roman institutions, based around the categories of nineteenth-century constitutional law. The Romans themselves never actually codified their complicated body of law, but by applying a historical approach to describe the development of Roman law Mommsen succeeds in making it more accessible to the reader. He systematises the many diverse legal elements upon which the Roman constitution was based and offers a coherent reading of it. Volume 3, Part 2 focuses mainly on the Roman Senate. Mommsen lists the number of senators, the process by which they were elected and their qualifications. He describes the Senate's rights, duties and protocol, and its jurisdiction and influence in various spheres within Rome and across the empire.

Theodor Mommsen's influential multi-volume work, first published between 1871 and 1888, is a systematic treatment of the intricate workings of the Roman state. The renowned German scholar proposed an original and sometimes controversial understanding of Roman institutions, based around the categories of nineteenth-century constitutional law. The Romans themselves never actually codified their complicated body of law, but by applying a historical approach to describe the development of Roman law Mommsen succeeds in making it more accessible to the reader. He systematises the many diverse legal elements upon which the Roman constitution was based and offers a coherent reading of it. In Volume 2, Part 2 Mommsen explains the origins and development of the Principate (the office of the Roman emperor), and describes the role of the imperial household. He also covers the tribunal court and the institutions responsible for governing Rome and Italy.