The Byzantine empire drew on the long Response area tradition of the Roman empire. This included the laws and edicts of former Roman emperors as well as laws from the Roman republic, such as the Response area. One Byzantine Response area wanted to simplify the laws so he appointed committees to go through the Roman laws and decisions. They produced a unified system of laws known as Response area.
The Justinian Code, named after Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, was a compilation of all existing Roman laws and legal decisions up to that point. The code, also known as the Corpus Juris Civilis, consisted of four main parts: the Code, the Digest, the Institutes, and the Novels.
The Code contained all the imperial laws and decrees from the time of Emperor Hadrian to Justinian. It included laws that pertained to various aspects of life, such as marriage, property, theft, contracts, and more. These laws were organized thematically to provide a comprehensive legal framework.
The Digest, also known as the Pandects, was a collection of legal opinions and writings by famous Roman jurists. These opinions were chosen and compiled by a committee of scholars appointed by Justinian. The Digest covered various legal topics and provided interpretations and explanations of the laws.
The Institutes were intended as an introduction to the study of law. They served as a textbook for law students, summarizing key legal principles and concepts. The Institutes drew heavily on the works of earlier jurists and were a foundational resource for legal education.
Lastly, the Novels, or Novellae Constitutiones, were a collection of Justinian's own laws and decrees that were issued after the completion of the Code, Digest, and Institutes. These new laws were added to supplement and update the existing legal system.
The Justinian Code played a significant role in shaping the legal tradition of not only the Byzantine Empire but also medieval Western Europe. It served as a fundamental legal text and influenced subsequent legal developments for centuries to come. The code's focus on clarifying and unifying the law contributed to legal certainty and stability within the Byzantine Empire.