The Twelve Tables was the first written law code of the Roman Republic. Before this, laws were unwritten and interpreted by priests and patricians (the elite), often to the disadvantage of the plebeians (the commoners). After a period of social unrest known as the Conflict of the Orders, a commission of ten men, the Decemviri, was appointed to codify the laws. These laws were inscribed on bronze tablets and displayed in the Roman Forum for all to see. They covered subjects such as court procedure, debt, parental authority, and property rights. While harsh—death penalties were common for theft—they established the vital principle that the law should be public and apply to all citizens. This was a crucial step in the development of the concept of 'Rule of Law,' which would eventually influence the legal systems of almost all Western nations.