Contents

Table of Legal Sources xi

Table of Ancient Non-Legal Sources xix

Introduction xx

1. Obligations: The Conceptual Map i

1. Definition: What is an Obligation? 2

2. Differentiation: Where do Obligations Fit in the Roman

View of the Law? 5

i.

ii. Differences between Gaius and Justinian i5

iii. Outside the institutional scheme i6

3. Internal Organisation: How Are Obligations Arranged? i6

i. The classification of obligations used by Gaius iy

ii. The classification of obligations in Stair 20

Part I. Contracts

2. The Organisation of Roman Contract 26

1. Arrangement of the List in Gaius’s and Justinian’s Institutes 3i

2. Formal and Informal Contracts 33

3. The Contract Litteris and the Role of Writing Generally 37

1. Justinian’s Contract Litteris 4i

2. The Role of Writing Outside Contracts Litteris 42

3. Arra 44

4. Writing and Stipulations 49

4. Contracts Verbis 52

1. Dotis Dictio (Declaration of Dowry) 52

2. Iusiurandum Liberti (Freedman’s Oath) 52

3. Stipulatio (Stipulation) 53

i. What was the formality? 53

ii. Why did stipulation not develop into a general law

of contract complete in itself ? 57

iii. What limits were there on the scope of stipulation? 59

iv. Special applications of stipulation 62

5. Contracts Consensu 65

1. Emptio-Venditio (Sale) 66

i. The demonstratio 67

ii. The intentio 78

iii. The action against the buyer 90

iv. Risk (periculum) 92

v. The passing of property 95

2. Locatio-Conductio (Hire) 97

i. The demonstratio 98

ii. The intentio 103

3. Societas (Partnership) iio

i. The demonstratio iii

ii. The intentio ii3

iii. The condemnatio ii8

4. Mandatum (Mandate, Commission or Agency) ii8

i. The demonstratio ii9

ii. The intentio i23

iii.

6. Contracts Re i29

1. Mutuum (Loan for Consumption) i3i

2. Commodatum (Loan for Use) i35

i. The demonstratio i36

ii. The intentio i37

3. Depositum (Deposit) i42

i. The demonstratio i43

ii. The intentio i45

4. Pignus (Pledge) i46

i. The contract of pignus: the relationship between

pledgor and pledgee i49

ii. The relationship between pledgee and res i5i

Part II. Delicts

7. Furtum (Theft) i58

1. The Action i58

2. Paul’s Definition i59

3. The Intent i6i

4. The Act i65

i. What did contrectatio mean to the high classics? i66

ii. What did contrectatio mean to Justinian? i70

iii. Was there an earlier doctrine and nomenclature? i70

5. The Absence of Consent i74

9. Some Ancillary Features 243

i. Recollections in tranquillity 243

ii. A year to sue 243

iii. The counter-iudicium 244

iv. The lex Cornelia de iniuriis 244

v. Dependent persons 244

Part III. Miscellaneous Other Categories

11. The Quasi Categories 248

1. The Content of the Quasi Categories 250

2. The Ideas behind the Quasi Categories 258

Appendices

Extracts from Gaius's and Justinian's Institutes 264

Translated by the author

Questions 289

Further Publications by Peter Birks 296

Index 299