Top-5 Oldest Laws in the World that are Still Followed, Check the List

Laws help societies live in peace and fairness. Many rules were made thousands of years ago, but only a few are still followed today. These ancient laws were created to guide people’s behavior, solve problems, and maintain order. Over time, they have been updated, yet their main ideas remain the same. Learning about such laws helps us understand how early civilizations shaped modern legal systems.

What are Ancient Legal Systems?

Ancient legal systems are sets of rules created thousands of years ago to manage society. They dealt with daily matters such as family life, property, crime, and duties of citizens. Their strength lies in their ability to evolve without losing their basic principles, which is why some of them are still followed today.

Top-5 Oldest Laws in the World Still Followed

Laws have guided human societies since ancient times to maintain order and ensure justice. While many early rules disappeared, a few legal systems survived by adapting to change and continue to influence modern laws today.

Here is the list of top-5 oldest laws in the world:

S. No.	Legal System	Period of Origin
1.	Roman Civil Law System	Around 450 BCE
2.	Ancient Indian Civil Law Tradition	Around 1500 BCE
3.	English Common Law System	12th Century CE
4.	Chinese Imperial Legal Tradition	221 BCE China
5.	Jewish Civil Law Tradition	Around 1200 BCE

Roman Civil Law System

The Roman Civil Law System began in ancient Rome around 450 BCE with the creation of the Twelve Tables, the first written laws of Rome. These laws explained rules related to family matters, property, contracts, and civil disputes.

Over time, Roman emperors and legal scholars improved and organised these laws. This system later inspired major legal codes such as the Napoleonic Code. Even today, many countries in Europe and other regions follow civil law systems that are directly based on Roman legal principles.

Ancient Indian Civil Law Tradition

The ancient Indian legal tradition started around 1500 BCE and was closely linked with the idea of Dharma, which means moral duty and justice. These laws mainly dealt with family relations, inheritance, property rights, and social responsibilities.

Rules were drawn from customs and early legal texts. With time, these principles were shaped into written laws. Many ideas from this tradition still influence personal and civil laws in India and Nepal today.

English Common Law System

The English Common Law System developed in medieval England during the 12th century CE. Unlike written codes, this system is based on judicial decisions made by judges in courts. Past judgments are used as references for future cases.

This system covers civil law, criminal law, constitutional matters, and individual rights. Due to British influence, common law spread to countries such as India, the USA, Australia, and Canada, where it continues to play a major role.

Chinese Imperial Legal Tradition

Chinese Imperial Law began in 221 BCE during the Qin Dynasty. It focused mainly on criminal law, administration, and discipline. The system supported strong central authority and strict enforcement of rules to maintain order.

Although modern China follows a different legal structure today, many ideas about governance, discipline, and administration come from this ancient legal tradition.

Jewish Civil Law Tradition

The Jewish Civil Law tradition started around 1200 BCE in ancient Israel. It mainly deals with civil matters such as marriage, inheritance, contracts, and community rules.

These laws developed from religious texts and long-standing customs. Even today, Jewish civil law is followed in Israel for personal matters and by Jewish communities across the world.