This introductory book has been written primarily for students whose course of studies includes Roman law, European legal history and comparative law. It can also prove of value to students and scholars interested in the fields of ancient history and classics. The book endeavours to present the basic principles of Roman private law as clearly and systematically as possible. Each chapter contains a large number of explanatory notes and references to Roman juridical sources, designed to assist the student who wishes to delve deeper into one or more of the topics mentioned. Since readers may not necessarily possess the expertise to study the original ancient texts, all the Latin words and phrases are translated and explained in clear and simple but precise terms. The end of the book lists the bibliographical references for further reading, together with the titles of the studies and research that formed the basis of this work. As long as it is remembered that the book is not devised as a thorough elaboration of all the complexities of Roman private law, and is therefore likely to be used in conjunction with other more detailed materials, it has a place in rendering Roman law more accessible to readers in many diverse fields of legal and historical learning.