What was crime in ancient Rome? Was it defined by law or social attitudes? Howdid damage to the individual differ from offences against the community as awhole?... » 

What was crime in ancient Rome? Was it defined by law or social attitudes? Howdid damage to the individual differ from offences against the community as awhole? This book explores competing legal and extralegal discourses in anumber of areas including theft official malpractice treason sexualmisconduct crimes of violence homicide magic and perceptions of deviance. Itargues that court practice was responsive to social change despite theingrained conservatism of the legal tradition and that judges and litigantswere in part responsible for the harsher operation of justice in LateAntiquity. Consideration is also given to how attitudes to crime were shapednot only by legal experts but also by the rhetorical education and practices ofadvocates and by popular and even elite indifference to the finer points oflaw. «