Legal Definitions - gentes

Term: gentes
Definition: In Roman law, gentes refers to the various peoples or nations of the world, especially those who are considered civilized.
Examples: The ancient Romans recognized many different gentes, including the Greeks, Egyptians, and Persians. These were all considered to be advanced societies with their own unique cultures and traditions. The concept of gentes was important in Roman law because it helped to define the rights and responsibilities of different groups of people. For example, a Roman citizen had certain legal protections that were not extended to foreigners or non-citizens. Understanding the concept of gentes was therefore essential for anyone who wanted to navigate the complex legal system of ancient Rome.