The ancient document that laid the foundation for Roman law is the Twelve Tables, created around 450 BCE. This legal code emerged from demands for transparency and protection of citizens' rights, as it was necessary to address the social inequalities between patricians (aristocrats) and plebeians (commoners). The Twelve Tables codified various aspects of daily life, including family law, property rights, and legal procedures, providing a basis for the legal structure that would evolve into more complex Roman law. Although the original text of the Twelve Tables has largely been lost, its principles influenced later legal systems and served as a key reference for subsequent Roman jurisprudence.