Theodosian Code

Questions for Further Study

• 1.: The Theodosian Code was written near the end of the Roman Empire. What historical circumstances made the code necessary, at least in the eyes of its author? Why did it fail to stabilize and preserve the empire?
• 2.: What is the distinction between common law and the type of law promulgated in the Theodosian Code? Why is the distinction important?
• 3.: What impact did Christianity have on the development of Roman law?
• 4.: In what specific ways did the Theodosian Code attempt to create a more civil, less violent society?
• 5.: In modern life, people often talk about the “decline of the Roman Empire,” citing it as an object lesson for modern states, including the United States. Many historians have attributed the empire's fall to softness, luxury, corruption, weakening of religious beliefs, loss of social cohesion, and similar factors. To what extent did the Theodosian Code either contribute to or attempt to resist this decline?