The Legal Heritage of Greece and Rome The ancient Greeks were among the first to develop a concept of law that separated everyday law from religious beliefs. Before the Greeks most civilizations attributed their laws to their gods or goddesses Instead,the Greeks believed that laws were made by the people for the people. In the seventh century B.C., Draco drew up Greece's first written code of laws. Under Draco's code death was the punishment tor most offences. Thus, the term draconian usually applies to extremely harsh measures!Draco's laws were so severe that they were said to have been written not,in ink,but in blood They permitted enslavement for debt, and death,seems to have been the penalty for almost all criminal offences. Several decades passed before Solon-noted poet, military hero, and Athens' lawgiver devised a new code of laws. Solon was of noble descent but moderate means. He first became prominent in about 600 B.C. -Solon substituted a system of control by the wealthy, and introduced a new and more humane law code. Trial by jury, an ancient Greek tradition was retained, but enslaving debtors was prohibited as were most of the harsh punishments of Draco's code. Under Solon's law citizens of Athens were eligible to serve in the assembly and courts were established in which they could appeal government decisions.4He revised every statute except that on homicide and made Athenian law altogether more humane. The social, economic, and political evils might well have culminated in a revolution and subsequent tyranny (dictatorship), as they had in other Greek states, had it not been for Solon, to whom Athenians of all classes turned in the hope of a generally satisfactory solution of their problems. Because he believed in moderation and in an ordered society in which each class had its proper place and function, his solution was not revolution but reform. What the Greeks may have contributed to the Romans was the concept of "natural law". 5In essence, natural law was based on the belief that certain basic principles are above the laws of a nation. These principles arise from the nature of people. The concept of natural law and the development of the first true legal system had a profound effect on the modern world. Draco-Alpaxourr, approcard 3aKoHonaremb 1. Answer the following questions: 1. What did the ancient Greek system of law emphasize? 2. What is the origin and the meaning of the word "draconian"? 3. What is Solon known for? 4. What was Solon's contribution to ancient law? 5. How do you understand the concept of 'natural law"?