Revival of Roman Law at Bologna

Timeline

1. 1001–1088Bologna · ItalyIn the 11th century Italian scholars rediscovered and transcribed Roman law compilations such as Justinian's Corpus Juris Civilis, and began systematically teaching them in Bologna and elsewhere, providing the textual basis and scholarly setting for the glossator movement.
2. c. 1088–1101Bologna · ItalyThe University of Bologna (Universitas scholarium), one of Europe's earliest universities, became renowned for teaching Roman and canon law, attracting students from many regions and forming an autonomous academic community of masters and students, serving as the institutional vehicle of the Roman law revival.
3. 1101–1201Bologna · ItalyGlossators such as Irnerius and Accursius annotated texts like the Digest line by line in Bologna, developing a systematic body of legal concepts and interpretive methods; their students spread across Europe, carrying Roman law scholarship to universities and royal courts everywhere.
4. 1211–1220Bologna · ItalyBy the early 13th century Bologna was the undisputed center of Roman law scholarship in Europe, the glossing tradition had matured and begun transitioning to the stage of the commentaries; rulers and the Church continued to employ Bolognese jurists, and the Roman law revival profoundly influenced legal reform in late medieval Europe.