In the development of Roman law, jurists played a very important role. They promoted the development of Roman law and Roman jurisprudence.
In the 1st century BC, Rome entered the imperial period. In the early days of the empire, jurists were very active, and the development of Roman jurisprudence also entered a period of prosperity. Many jurists were also granted the right to provide legal answers by the emperor, and their answers became important sources of law. The jurists wrote books and explained the law, forming different schools, mainly the school of Procu and the school of Sabinus. During this period, the five most famous jurists appeared: Gaius, Berbinian, Paul, Ulpian, and Modestinus. The legal interpretations of the five major jurists have the same legal effect. To summarize the activities and functions of Roman jurists: answer the law; participate in litigation; write books and commentaries; compile codes and participate in legislative activities. In order to rebuild and revitalize the Roman Empire, Emperor Justinian (527-565 AD) established the Codex Compilation Committee to carry out the work of codification. From 528 to 534 AD, three compilations of laws and regulations were completed.
First, "Justinian Code". This is a compilation of laws compiled in 528-529 AD. It sorted out, reviewed and selected the edicts issued by the Roman emperors of the past dynasties.
Second, "Justinian's General Theory of Jurisprudence", also translated as "The Ladder of Jurisprudence". It is an adaptation based on Gaius's "Ladder of Law". It is a concise legal textbook that explains the principles of Roman law. It is also an officially designated "private law" textbook and has legal validity.
Third, the "Compilation of Justinian's Legal Doctrine", also translated as "The Compilation of Legal Doctrine", was compiled from 530 to 533 AD. This is a compilation of legal works, which collects, organizes and excerpts the doctrinal works and legal solutions of famous Roman jurists of all ages. All the included contents have legal effect.
In 565 AD, jurists compiled 168 edicts issued by Emperor Justinian from 535 to 565 AD, which was called the "New Laws of Justinian".
The above four legal compilations were collectively known as the "Encyclopedia of National Law" or "Encyclopedia of Civil Law" by the 12th century AD. The publication of the Encyclopedia of National Law marked the development of Roman law into its most developed and complete stage.