from the era when Law of Torts served the interests of a simple (primitive, in relative terms) society with simple socio-economic problems, to a complex era of industrial revolution fired by industries, cars, aeroplane, radios, televisions, mobile phones and their attendant benefits, risks and accidents. Of all the Legal Subjects you will cover, Law of Tort and Land Law best illustrate the historical development of the Common Law. You should read all the topics shown in your Course Outline. Each Topic builds into the next in historical perspectives. In your study of the Law of Tort you can not avoid turning to history to understand the present principles of the Law of Tort. Without the advantage of historical background, the current principles of the Law of Tort
10 are meaningless. Huaraka (1974) had long realised the role of history in understanding the current law when he wrote: " .... In feudal Britain of the medieval period the rights which a person had in land determined his status and consequently his legal rights. From the king and the peer to the villein (serf) and the labourer each occupied legally fixed position in society and had to conform to the laws of his class". Page 4. Importance of Case Law I have picked a few cases that are likely to impress your memories with a vivid illustration, or a terse exposition, of some important principle of the Law of Tort. In some parts of the Manual you will find whole texts, cases and articles reproduced to furnish you with originality of arguments by such eminent
