Programme

The course is divided into two parts, general and special. The general part – dedicated to the study of the fundamental aspects of the so-called dominium ex iure Quiritium in its historical development, from its origins to the Justinian reforms – addresses the following topics: (1) the concept of ‘domain’ (meum esse) in early Roman law; (2) the slow emergence of the notion of ‘property’ – first in the procedural context (actio in rem), then in relation to the formation of the iura praediorum and the right of usufruct – and the subsequent ‘division’ of the ‘property’ (duplex dominium); (3) the structure and scope of application of the actio Publiciana, whose controversial genesis must be placed in relation to the recognition of traditio, an institution arising from the ius gentium; (4) the discipline of the so-called ‘provincial property’ in imperial legislation, from the rescript of Septimius Severus and Caracalla on the longae possessionis praescriptio of 199 AD to Justinian’s reform; (5) the classification of the modes of acquiring property in Gaius’ Institutiones, in the Tituli ex corpore Ulpiani, and in D. 41.1 de adquirendo rerum dominio.
The special section retraces the investigation of Roman historiography into the subject of ‘transfer of property’ (translatio dominii), with the aim of understanding the differences between modern dogmatic categories and Roman legal frameworks.

Core Documentation

1) C.A. CANNATA, Corso di istituzioni di diritto romano, I, Torino, Giappichelli, 2001, pp. 11-49; 151-222; 253-370; 399--405; 525-555;
2) F. GALLO, Studi sul trasferimento della proprietà in diritto romano, rist. Torino, Giappichelli, 2025

Reference Bibliography

1) G. DIÓSDI, Ownership in Preclassical and Classical Roman Law, Budapest, Akadémiai Kiadó, 1971; 2) B. Nicholas, An Introduction to Roman Law, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1962, pp. 98-157; 3) P. Birks (ed.), New Perspectives in the Roman Law of Property. Essays for B. Nicholas, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1989; 4) L. Capogrossi Colognesi, Ownership and Power in Roman Law, in P.J. Du Plessis-C. Ando-K. Tuori (eds.), The Oxford Handbuch of Roman Law and Society, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2016, pp. 524-536;

Attendance

Course attendance is optional; however, it is recommended

Type of evaluation

Oral exam