Development of Russian law in the 15th-18th centuries: main trends and features

this article analyzes key Russian legal documents of the 15th-18th centuries: the Sudebniks of 1497 and 1550 and the Cathedral Code of 1649, as well as Peter I's decrees on judicial reform. The aim of this study was to examine regulatory documents characterizing Russian legislation during the centralized state period and to identify norms that differed significantly from previous ones and were characteristic of a unified state. The object of the study was the forms of legal proceedings, the parties to the proceedings and the specifics of their rights, as well as the system of evidence. An examination of the key provisions of the Sudebniks of 1497 and 1550, the Cathedral Code of 1649, and Peter I's decrees on judicial procedure allowed us to assess their significance for the development of Russian law and their influence on the formation of the legal system of a unified Russian state. The article focuses on changes in the legal regulation of criminal liability, legal proceedings, and other areas of public life. The study concluded that the development of the judicial system of a unified state took place over several centuries. Despite the emergence of written law, customary law continued to play a significant role in criminal and civil proceedings. Court decisions were often based not only on the evidence presented but also took into account established judicial practice.

Russian law, centralized state, civil and criminal procedure, legal proceedings, Sudebnik, Cathedral Code, legislation of Peter I