PIVOTAL MOMENTS IN LEGAL HISTORYKey events in the evolution of law from the dawn of

civilisation to today

2853 BC - EMPEROR FU XILaid down the laws of humanity, establishing

moral & social orders

1300 BC - THE TEN COMMANDMENTSIn the bible written that God gave the 10 Commandments to

Moses. An early statement of fundamental principles.

399 BC - SOCRATES TRIALEarly recorded trial with Socrates willing to die for his belief

in espousing the truth as he sees it.

50 BC - CICERO THEORIESCicero formulated that human beings should follow the

natural law of reason - forming the basis of modern law.

700 AD - FINGERPRINTING INVENTEDInvented in China as a means to authenticate loans and

contracts.

871 AD - ALFRED THE GREATIntroduced the principle of trial by jury.

1215 AD - MAGNA CARTERThe establishment that ‘no freeman should be deprived of life,

liberty or poverty except by legal judgement…’

1679 AD - HABEAS CORPUSProhibiting even a ruler operating outside the law preventing

unlawful detention, or arbitrary imprisonment.

1804 AD - NAPOLEON’S CIVIL CODEComprehensive Code of Civil Law enshrining principles of

individual liberty and equality before the law.

1885 AD - A.V.DICEY BRITISH CONSTITUTION

Book setting out the twin pillars of the primacy of Parliament and the Rule of Law, safeguarding the independence of the judiciary.

1911 AD - THE PARLIAMENT ACTEstablishment of the supremacy of the elected Commons over the

non-elected Lords. The Lords could no longer block legislation.

1959 AD - EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights over member states of the Council of Europe.

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