How long did it take the Romans to write the Twelve Tables?

How long did it take the Romans to write the Twelve Tables?

• A. Two years.
• B. One year.
• C. Five years.
• D. Three years.

Answer: (A)

This question tests the timeline for creating Rome’s first written public code of laws. The Twelve Tables emerged from a deliberate drafting process led by a group of ten officials, the decemviri, who were tasked with turning customary law into a written code and inscribing it so everyone could know the rules. Historical tradition places the drafting over about two years, with the final tablets inscribed and publicly posted in the Forum around 450 BCE. That two-year period reflects the careful drafting, negotiation, and verification needed before making law accessible to all citizens. So the two-year timeframe is the supported answer.

This question tests the timeline for creating Rome’s first written public code of laws. The Twelve Tables emerged from a deliberate drafting process led by a group of ten officials, the decemviri, who were tasked with turning customary law into a written code and inscribing it so everyone could know the rules. Historical tradition places the drafting over about two years, with the final tablets inscribed and publicly posted in the Forum around 450 BCE. That two-year period reflects the careful drafting, negotiation, and verification needed before making law accessible to all citizens. So the two-year timeframe is the supported answer.