Corpus Juris Civilis

The Corpus Juris Civilis, or "Body of Civil Law," is a comprehensive collection of laws and legal principles created in the 6th century under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. It consists of four main parts: the Digest, which summarizes existing legal texts; the Code, containing laws issued by past emperors; the Institutes, an introduction to legal concepts for students; and the Novellae, which includes new laws enacted after the Code. This work significantly influenced modern legal systems in many countries, particularly in Europe, by providing a foundation for civil law, emphasizing clarity and systematic organization of legal information.