Law develops as society evolves. Historically, the simplest societies were tribal. The members of the tribe were bonded together initially by kinship and worship of the same gods. Even in the absence of courts and legislature there was law―a blend of custom, morality, religion, and magic. The visible authority was the ruler, or chief; the ultimate authorities were believed to be the gods whose will was revealed in the forces of nature and in the revelations of the tribal head or the priests. Wrongs against the tribe, such as sacrilege or breach of tribal custom, were met with group sanctions including ridicule and hostility, and, the tribe members thought, with the wrath of the gods. The gods were appeased in ritualistic ceremonies ending perhaps in sacrifice or expulsion of the wrongdoer. Wrongs against individuals, such as murder, theft, adultery, or failure to repay a debt, were avenged by the family of the victim, often in actions against the family of the wrongdoer. Revenge of this kind was based on tribal custom, a major component of early law.

【GRE写作重点话题：法律的权威性与公正性】相关文章：

★ GRE写作素材：知识与教育类名言

★ 2011gre issue写作优秀实例：法律灵活性

★ 新GRE写作：修辞手法的运用

★ gre issue写作优秀实例：法律公正问题

★ 新GRE考后写作试题四点分析

★ 新GRE阅读题型分类

★ 新GRE issue写作破题方法揭秘

★ gre issue写作优秀实例：交流的有效方式

★ GRE写作素材：关于人品的名言

★ 新GRE写作 introduction 之间的区别