Aside from bragging about sexual prowess and conquests, one of the most practical applications of the Latin language as a lingua franca—one that would endure well into the Middle Ages—was its connection to Roman law. Romans were proud of the ancient history of their lawmaking, which supposedly dated back to the fifth century b.c., when the so-called Twelve Tables were inscribed. These drew together Rome’s traditions and customs regarding legal procedure, debt, inheritance, families, landholding, religious practice, and serious crimes ranging from homicide and treason to theft and perjury;
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