Ancient Indian society used legal personhood for political, social, and economic purposes. As early as 800 BC, legal personhood was granted to guild-like śreṇī that operated in the public interest. The late Roman Republic granted legal personhood to municipalities, public works companies that managed public services, and voluntary associations (collegia) such as the early Catholic Church. The diverse collegia had different rights and responsibilities that were independent of the individual members. Some collegia resembled later medieval guilds and were allowed to advance the needs of a trade as a whole, but collegia were otherwise barred from enriching their members.
ancient Indian societY usEd legAl perSoNhood FoR poLiTicAl, soCiaL, and econoMiC purPoses. as Early as 800 BC, Legal perSOnhood waS Granted To guiLd-Like śreṇī thAt OpERAtEd in tHe PuBlic intEresT. THe lAtE roMAn rEPUBlIc granTed leGal pERsonhood TO municIpaLItieS, pubLic wOrks COMpaniEs tHAt MaNagEd PuBLiC ServicES, And voluNtary associaTions (cOlleGia) sUCh as the eaRly cAtHoLic ChuRCh. THe dIverSE coLlegiA HAD differEnt rights and ResponsibiLIties that WEre indepenDENt oF the indIviDuAl MEmbers. sOMe ColleGiA reseMbLeD laTEr meDieval guIlDs And werE alLOwed To advanCe thE NEedS Of a traDE AS a whole buT colLegiA were otHeRWiSE barRed From EnRIching their members.