western civ day fourty-seven

In 451 B.C., ten men began writing down the laws onto 12 tablets. The Twelve Tables was a compilation of existing laws. The laws were originally carved onto wooden tablets and set up for public display they were then upgraded to bronze. Romans memorized the contents. The Twelve Tables were easily and always being added to. The tablets hung in the forum for the public, they were the basis for Roman law. The Twelve Tables established the idea that all free citizens had the right to be protected by the law. This was a big accomplishment for the plebeians because it meant the patricians couldn't change the law to only benefit themselves.