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Simple English definitions for legal terms
basilica
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A quick definition of basilica:
A basilica is a type of building that was used as a law court or for trading in ancient Rome. It usually had a big hall with columns and was used for public gatherings. Later, the layout of the basilica was used for designing early Christian churches. The term "Basilica" also refers to a Greek summary of Justinian's Corpus Juris Civilis, which was a major source of law in the Eastern Empire from the 10th century until Constantinople's fall in 1453.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: A basilica is a type of building that was used as a law court or for trading. In ancient Rome, it was a public building that was usually used as a court of justice. It typically had a nave with two aisles and an apse. Architects used the layout of the basilica to design early Christian churches.
Examples:
- The Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine in Rome was a public building used for legal and commercial purposes.
- The Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy, is an example of an early Christian church that was designed using the layout of a basilica.
The examples illustrate how the term "basilica" can refer to both a public building used for legal and commercial purposes in ancient Rome and a type of early Christian church that was designed using the layout of a basilica.