Researching Historical Sources of the Civil Law

This lesson will introduce you to the civil law tradition and discuss research in civil law historical sources. The lesson covers the five major types of world legal systems, explains the current and historical sources of the civil law, and discusses the importance of historical sources in civil law research and interpretation.

Specific historical sources are identified, as well as ideas for using secondary sources to make sure that your research is on the right track.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Identify the five major types of world legal systems.
2. Provide a definition for civil law.
3. Explain why researching civil law is important.
4. Establish a strategy for researching historical civil law.