Most of the ststes of continental Europe,some in Sonth America and some in Asia,such as Thaiand and Japan are civil law counties.Generally speaking,that means that all their laws both substantive and procedural,are contained in comprehensive documents called'codes'-a series of texts initially developed since the Emperor Justinian's period.Although important differences are apparent between the common law system and the civil law system,both are strongly influenced by the precepts of Christianity and,to a greater or lesser extent,by Roman law.