Where did common law originate?

Common law originated in England during the medieval period. It developed as a unified body of law that emerged from the decisions made by royal courts, as opposed to the various local customs and laws that existed prior to this system. The concept was that judges would look to previous court decisions, also known as precedents, to guide their rulings in new cases, thereby creating consistency and predictability in the law.

This legal system has greatly influenced many other legal systems around the world, particularly those of English-speaking countries. In contrast, the other options refer to legal traditions that either did not give rise to common law or embody different legal frameworks entirely, such as civil law traditions seen in France and Germany. The United States legal system does incorporate common law principles but is largely based on the legal system inherited from England.