Greek Law
A.Y. 2019/2020
Learning objectives
Obiettivo fondamentale del corso di diritto greco è consentire allo studente di riflettere sugli elementi di continuità e discontinuità nelle strutture giuridiche del passato e del presente. A questo scopo, alcune lezioni saranno dedicate all'esame specifico di leggi, istituti e casi che permettano un confronto di questo tipo. Uno dei temi affrontati (anche con la collaborazione di esperti della materia), per esempio, sarà quello del rapporto tra vendetta e giustizia: un tema che assillava gli antichi e che è ancora oggi attualissimo; o, ancora, quello del rapporto conflittuale tra due ordini di "leggi", riflesso per esempio nell'Antigone di Sofocle. Ancora, si prenderanno in considerazioni posizioni antiche e moderne a proposito della funzione della pena.
Expected learning outcomes
- La conoscenza dei fondamentali istituti del diritto greco, e in particolare del diritto attico, e la comprensione dei principali meccanismi storici, politici ed economici che ne determinarono l'evoluzione
- La capacità di comprendere l'importanza storica e la persistenza attuale di alcuni fondamentali principi elaborati nella Grecia antica
- La capacità di interpretare in modo autonomo le fonti e di sostenere tale interpretazione con argomentazioni probanti
- La capacità di comunicare le conoscenze acquisite con linguaggio tecnico appropriato, utilizzando le fonti in modo rigoroso a sostegno delle proprie argomentazioni
- La capacità di confronto tra specifici istituti antichi e moderni
- La capacità di comprendere l'importanza storica e la persistenza attuale di alcuni fondamentali principi elaborati nella Grecia antica
- La capacità di interpretare in modo autonomo le fonti e di sostenere tale interpretazione con argomentazioni probanti
- La capacità di comunicare le conoscenze acquisite con linguaggio tecnico appropriato, utilizzando le fonti in modo rigoroso a sostegno delle proprie argomentazioni
- La capacità di confronto tra specifici istituti antichi e moderni
Lesson period: Second semester
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
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The aim of the course is the analysis of the most significant features of ancient Greek law, and in particular of Athenian law. This analysis will also profit from a comparison with the institutions of other ancient lawcodes, first of all the Roman one, and, whenever possible, with contemporary rules.
In the first lessons we will focus on the sources of Greek law and on some of the main issues connected with their interpretation; in fact, the lack of a category of legal experts in ancient Greece has led some scholars, especially in the past, to erroneously think that, since there was no official interpretation of the laws, the Greek (and most specifically the Athenian) trial could not guarantee justice.
After this introduction, we will read some Homeric passages in order to study the origins of the most ancient institutions of the Greeks.
We will then deal with the first written laws and "constitutions", and on the relationship (in the fourth century BCE) between "laws" (nomoi) and "decrees" (psephismata). Some of the lessons will focus in particular on the role of the law, also as a proof, in the Attic trial.
We will then analyze the status of citizens and the problems connected with the grant of citizenship on the strict basis of ius sanguinis.
Several lessons will be focused on laws concerning offenses and crimes: e.g., homicide, seduction (moicheia), battery, impiety (with particular reference to the trial of Socrates).
The students will be asked to actively participate in some of the lessons; further information will be given during the first lesson.
All the sources (translated in Italian) will be available online, together with a synopsis of each lesson. The course is open also to the students who cannot read ancient Greek.
In the first lessons we will focus on the sources of Greek law and on some of the main issues connected with their interpretation; in fact, the lack of a category of legal experts in ancient Greece has led some scholars, especially in the past, to erroneously think that, since there was no official interpretation of the laws, the Greek (and most specifically the Athenian) trial could not guarantee justice.
After this introduction, we will read some Homeric passages in order to study the origins of the most ancient institutions of the Greeks.
We will then deal with the first written laws and "constitutions", and on the relationship (in the fourth century BCE) between "laws" (nomoi) and "decrees" (psephismata). Some of the lessons will focus in particular on the role of the law, also as a proof, in the Attic trial.
We will then analyze the status of citizens and the problems connected with the grant of citizenship on the strict basis of ius sanguinis.
Several lessons will be focused on laws concerning offenses and crimes: e.g., homicide, seduction (moicheia), battery, impiety (with particular reference to the trial of Socrates).
The students will be asked to actively participate in some of the lessons; further information will be given during the first lesson.
All the sources (translated in Italian) will be available online, together with a synopsis of each lesson. The course is open also to the students who cannot read ancient Greek.
Prerequisites for admission
None. Knowledge of Ancient Greek not required.
Teaching methods
frontal lessons and round-table debates
Teaching Resources
Students who attend the lessons will prepare the exam on the material published online and on their personal notes.
Students who do not attend the lessons will prepare the exam on the handbook: L. Pepe, Atene a processo. Il diritto ateniese attraverso le orazioni giudiziarie, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2019
Students who do not attend the lessons will prepare the exam on the handbook: L. Pepe, Atene a processo. Il diritto ateniese attraverso le orazioni giudiziarie, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2019
Assessment methods and Criteria
Students who attend the course should prepare their exam both on the slides published online and on their personal notes; they can also take a written test at the end of the course (further information during the first lessons).
Students who do not attend the course will prepare the exam on the handbook (L. Pepe, Atene a processo. Il diritto ateniese attraverso le orazioni giudiziarie, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2019) and will take an oral exam.
Ability to express ideas and with lexical property and critical approach will concur to a higher grade.
Students who do not attend the course will prepare the exam on the handbook (L. Pepe, Atene a processo. Il diritto ateniese attraverso le orazioni giudiziarie, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2019) and will take an oral exam.
Ability to express ideas and with lexical property and critical approach will concur to a higher grade.
IUS/18 - ROMAN AND ANCIENT LAW - University credits: 6
Lessons: 42 hours
Professor:
Pepe Laura
Shifts:
-
Professor:
Pepe LauraProfessor(s)
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