逾百年歷史的德國民法典，隨著歐體化與國際化急速腳步，德國立法者乃面臨新世紀與新時代的現代化立法使命。值此德國民法典「再法典化」之際，本文從法制史之角度，論述德國民法典百年來之發展過程，藉以綜觀瞭解德國民法在上世紀與本世紀初的具體轉變。 就內容上，本文首先淺介德國民法法典化之歷史成因；次之，概說德國民法法典之制定過程；進而，論述德國民法法典之編制體裁，並著眼其保留日爾曼法與繼承羅馬法之相關規定，以作為各編主要討論之內容；繼之，由德國政治與社會之變動，觀察有關德國民法之發展與修正歷程；嗣而，略述德國民法各編自生技施行後內在之變動與其他相鄰法之規定，最後，乃輔以德國民法未來發展之走向為收筆。

The article attempts to provide a historical introduction to the German Civil Code. The first part of this study describes the historical background of the codification of German Civil Law. The second part deals with the enactment processes of the German Civil Code. The third part treats the style and the system of the German Civil Code. In addition, it is about Roman law and German law because they both significantly influenced the German Civil Code. The fourth part focuses on the amendment und the development of the German Civil Code in view of the drastic changes of the political and economic situations in the 20th century. The fifth part deals with the changes of the Code itself and the enactment of the particular laws. The sixth part concerns the development of the German Civil Code in the future.