Question

[No] single citizen should stand on such an eminence that he could not be required to answer according to law. Nothing contributed more towards maintaining liberty for all than the power of putting the most powerful citizen on his trial. What business, it was asked... could be entrusted to any man, if he had not to render an account for it? If a man cannot submit to laws which are the same for all, no force which may be employed against him is unlawful.

-Livy, ""The Trial of Scipio,"" The History of Rome, circa 28 B.C.

Based on the information in the excerpt, in what way is the trial of this war hero a step in the development of the rule of law?
A. It proved that a trial by a jury was common.
B. It illustrated the idea that no citizen was above the law
C. It demonstrated the importance of having lawyers in trials
D. It showed a commitment to protecting the innocence of the accused

Answer 1

The trial of the war hero in Livy's 'The Trial of Scipio' represents a step in the development of the rule of law by emphasizing that no citizen is above the law.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the excerpt from Livy's "The Trial of Scipio," regarding the development of the rule of law, the trial of the war hero is significant in illustrating that no citizen was above the law. This principle is fundamental to the idea of a society governed by laws rather than by individuals. The passage highlights the importance of accountability and legal equality, where even the most powerful citizen could be brought to trial and required to answer for their actions under the same laws that applied to all citizens. This concept was a step towards the establishment of a fair and impartial legal system, which is a cornerstone of modern democracy and legal frameworks.