A legal system based on judicial decisions and precedents rather than written statutes, developed in medieval England and spread throughout the British Empire. Common law evolves through court rulings and emphasizes the principle of stare decisis.
From Anglo-Norman 'commune ley,' meaning law common to the entire kingdom, as opposed to local customs. Developed under Henry II in the 12th century to create unified legal standards across England, replacing the patchwork of local and regional laws.
Henry II's common law was revolutionary because it created 'one law for all'—whether you were in Yorkshire or Cornwall, the same legal principles applied. This system proved so adaptable that it still governs legal decisions in countries from Australia to Zimbabwe, making it history's most successful legal export.
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