In the 1500s, archaeologists discovered fragments of a bronze plate in Urbino, Italy, containing a law created by Roman jurist Gaius in the late 2nd century BCE. Known as Gaius' compensation law, it was designed to help provincials recover losses from Roman officials and provided a groundbreaking framework for addressing corruption and abuse of power. The law specified rules for trials, rewards for successful prosecutions, and assistance for victims, particularly foreigners. Although its effectiveness is debated, the law shows that Roman politicians were starting to care about the wider world and the plight of the disadvantaged. It also served as a check on senatorial power, as only senators and their sons were liable for prosecution, and juries were drawn from the equestrian class. This law is a significant piece of Roman legal and political history, highlighting the sophistication of the Roman Republic's systems and the importance of chance discoveries in uncovering historical truths.
