RESUMENEl presente documento se refiere a la evolución del Derecho como herramienta de regulación de la vida social durante las distintas épocas históricas, en las civilizaciones mesopotámica, griega, altomedieval, el incanato, y la de Roma, y sus sucesoras en el Derecho: la Recepción medieval y moderna, y la contemporánea. El objetivo principal es reconocer los motivos que desencadenan su cambio de perspectiva y, a partir de dicho análisis, detallar su proceso de transformación en la historia, teniendo en cuenta que, las diversas formas de hacer y entender al Derecho, han afectado los factores sociales, económicos e institucionales. La principal motivación para esta investigación, es reflexionar e identificar concepciones relevantes en la Historia que se manifiestan en el modo de producir y ejercitar el Derecho, y que en los momentos primitivos se relacionan con la extensión religiosa, hasta la legitimación de las clases sociales. Finalmente, aunque el Derecho se caracteriza por una naturaleza en cierto modo cambiante, solo cabe comprenderlo como realidad histórica, consecuencia de un pasado que, hoy más que nunca, lo vincula de modo muy similar en el mundo globalizado, a las concepciones que, desde Roma, se desarrollaron en el occidente europeo. ABSTRACTThis document refers to Law’s evolution as a tool for regulating social life during the different historical ages—in the Mesopotamian, Greek, Early Medieval and Inca times, and Roman civilizations, and their successors in Law: of the medieval, modern and contemporary receptions. Recognizing the reasons that trigger thechange of perspective is this analysis’s main objective and, from said analysis, detailing its historical transformation process, considering that the various ways of doing and understanding the law have affectedthe social, economic and institutional factors. This research’s main motivation is to reflect and identify relevant Historical concepts that are manifested in the way of producing and exercising Law, and that inprimitive moments are related to religious extension, and even to the legitimization of social classes. Finally, although Law is characterized by a somewhat changing nature, it can only be understood as a historical reality, a consequence of a past that, more than ever, links it in a similar way in the globalized world—to concepts that, from Rome, were developed in Western Europe. KEY WORDS: history of Law, social rules, society, legal system, civilizations. JEL CODE /CLASIFICACIÓN JEL: B25, D52This document refers to Law’s evolution as a tool for regulating social life during the different historical ages—in the Mesopotamian, Greek, Early Medieval and Inca times, and Roman civilizations, and their successors in Law: of the medieval, modern and contemporary receptions. Recognizing the reasons that trigger thechange of perspective is this analysis’s main objective and, from said analysis, detailing its historical transformation process, considering that the various ways of doing and understanding the law have affectedthe social, economic and institutional factors. This research’s main motivation is to reflect and identify relevant Historical concepts that are manifested in the way of producing and exercising Law, and that inprimitive moments are related to religious extension, and even to the legitimization of social classes. Finally, although Law is characterized by a somewhat changing nature, it can only be understood as a historical reality, a consequence of a past that, more than ever, links it in a similar way in the globalized world—to concepts that, from Rome, were developed in Western Europe. KEY WORDS: history of Law, social rules, society, legal system, civilizations. JEL CODE: B25, D52