FIRST CODIFICATIONS OF LAW

Abstract

Broadly defined, codification is every complete legal regulation of a legal area, regardless of whether it was achieved through one or various legal acts. There were codifications in the ancient history (Hammurabi Code, Code of Justinian), as well as in the medieval period, though feudalism was the epoch of uncodified and particular law. Still, the number of codifications rose even further in the transition period from feudalism to capitalism, with the creation of national markets and centralised nation states. Thus commenced the epoch of bourgeoisie codifications with the French civil code in 1804. Following the French, the Civil Code of Austria was enacted in 1811, followed by the General Property Code for the principality of Montenegro in 1888, the German Civil Code in 1896, and in 1844 Civil Code of Laws of Principality of Serbia, which constitute the topic of this paper.