The Justinian Code, implemented about 1500 years ago, totally changed the Roman Empire. It brought together existing laws and codes in one place, becoming the sole authority for law in Justinian's time. It included the laws and details on legal terms and information for students studying law. It not only directed law in the Byzantine Empire, but also influenced the Roman Catholic Church's ideas about law, and in turn, many of the laws in western nations are based partially on ancient Roman laws. According to Justinian Code, a person is innocent until proven guilty. Sound familiar? This is just one example of how the Justinian Code influenced modern laws.