More specifically, the module will analyze the figure of Augustus, the foundation of the Principate, and the new political institutions. It will then examine the mechanisms of imperial succession and the major reforms implemented by successive emperors. Criminal repression will be examined with regard both to individual offences and to the procedural system. Particular attention will be devoted to the principate of Trajan, the grant of citizenship through the Constitutio Antoniniana, the reforms of Diocletian, and Justinian’s compilation. The provincial administrative system and the various legal statuses of provincial cities will also be examined.
Through individual study, attendance, and active participation in the learning activities, students will be able to:
The module consists of in-person lectures, for a total of 18 hours (equivalent to 3 ECTS credits). Throughout the course, the main features of the Roman imperial legal system will be examined and explored in depth.
Selected Latin and Greek texts – with Italian translations – will also be analyzed and discussed; these materials will be provided during the lectures and made available on Aulaweb.
Furthermore, scholars and experts in the field will be invited to deliver lectures and seminars on specific topics of particular relevance.
The institutional reforms of Augustus. The res gestae divi Augusti. The legal-constitutional nature of the Augustan principate and its development. Senatorial and imperial provinces. Provincial cities and local autonomies. The imperial succession. The principate of Claudius. Trajan and the Institutum Traiani. Hadrian and the codification of the edict. Caracalla and the granting of citizenship. Diocletian and the edictum de pretiis. Constantine, Theodosius and the relations between the empire and Christianity.
The lex Iulia iudiciorum publicorum. The development of the criminal repression and new criminal offences. The criminal repression in the provinces.
Syllabus for attending students: The study is based on lecture notes, supplemented by materials provided on Aulaweb, and the following sections of the textbook: A. Schiavone (ed.), Storia giuridica di Roma, Giappichelli, Torino 2024, pp. 265-339; pp. 413-514; 544-571.
Syllabus for non-attending students: G. Grosso, Lezioni di Storia del diritto romano, fifth revised and expanded edition, Giappichelli, Torino 2008 (anastatic reprint), pp. 349-511.
Alternatively, students may agree on an individual examination syllabus tailored to their specific academic interests.
Ricevimento: Prof. Rossella Laurendi Genoa Campus By appointment, at the Roman Law section, Via Balbi 30, 4th floor. Please schedule via email. Imperia Campus At the end of lectures, by appointment via email.
ROSSELLA LAURENDI (President)
LIVIA MIGLIARDI
MARCO PIETRO PAVESE (President Substitute)
ANNA BARBANO (Substitute)
DANIELE CURIR (Substitute)
First term, September 2025
The timetable for this course is available here: EasyAcademy
The final examination is oral and applies to both attending and non-attending students. It consists of four to five open-ended questions. Attending students are expected to demonstrate a solid understanding of the general framework of the course and to provide a critical reading of the texts analyzed during the lectures.
The oral examination is intended to assess the student’s comprehension of fundamental concepts and their ability to place constitutional forms and principles of public law within their historical and social contexts. Through general questions – and, for attending students, the discussion of texts studied in class – the examination will assess the student’s ability to:
Students with certified disabilities or specific learning disorders (DSA) may request reasonable accommodations during examinations (e.g., additional time, adjustments to oral/written formats) by following the procedures outlined in the guidelines available here (p. 5). For further assistance, students may contact the designated professor: Isa.Fanlo@unige.it
