Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC) made huge contributions to Mesopotamian culture and society, but the one that stands out and is most well known, is his code of 282 laws, written on a pillar in every city & towns temples. This code of laws tells us that the Mesopotamian society was divided into hierarchies as well as patriarchies. It demonstrates to us that the people had a common understanding of order and accepted obedience to their ruler. .
The Code of Hammurabi consisted of 282 laws that had been passed down orally, collected, written down, and posted on pillars in every city for all to see. Because of this last part, the code was considered just, and everyone was expected to know it. If you couldn't read, you had someone read it to you. However, just does not mean that the code was equal. Mesopotamian society was hierarchical in the following levels (in descending value): kings, nobles, commoners, and slaves. .
Contrary to the present day concept of slavery, in Mesopotamian society, slaves were simply prisoners of war. If your land lost a war, you served the victors. This demonstrates that the Mesopotamian people lived by rules of almost childlike simplistic fairness (i.e., 'if I win this game of go fish, then you have to do my chores'). Slavery was not based on the color of your skin, but simply on your ability to defend yourself in times of war.
Crimes were punished according to the class structure, and usually consisted of physical mutilation if committed in the same class. If your crime was on someone of lesser class than you, a monetary fine was usually the punishment. However, if you committed a crime involving someone of a higher class, your punishment was either physical mutilation, yet death was more common. Punishments were usually just, like the "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" saying. With this type of punishment scale, I think that serious crimes were few and far between, because of the extremely harsh punishments.
What was the Code of Hammurabi, and what were its most attractive and least attractive features in your view? Hammurabi was the king of Babylon. He constructed and enforced the Code of Hammurabi, which consisted of two hundred and eight two laws. ... Hammurabi was attempting to eliminate violence. ... This is a very severe form of punishment, although severity seemed to be Hammurabi's style. ...
The Code of Hammurabi dates back to around 1770 BCE. ... Many of Hammurabi's laws were unfair to the lower class. ... Also, Hammurabi's code regulated nearly every aspect of life. ... Hammurabi. Ancient History Sourcebook: Code of Hammurabi. ...
Justice in Hammurabi's code varied based on the defender/victim status. ... According to Hammurabi's code, punishments differ with social status. ... In the Code of Hammurabi, laws and settlements varied based on gender. ... In Hammurabi's Code, questions had simple stated answers. ... People knew their place under Hammurabi. ...
Hammurabi is thought of to be a life-saver, or to others, a life-ender. ... Hammurabi was the king and chief priest of Babylonia from 1792-1750 B.C. ... Hammurabi's code is the oldest set of laws known to exist. ... Hammurabi's code of laws is written on a stone. ... All and all, Hammurabi established many things. ...
COMMERCIAL LIFE IN CODE OF HAMMURABI Hammurabi was having power at Mesopotamia from 1795BC to 1750BC as a leader of Babylonia. ... The well-known Code of Hammurabi' was written for this reason. ... (Johns,page 1) The Code of Hammurabi put some rules aboutthe commercial contact between agent and merchant.The agent had to give a receipt for all that he received. ... (Code 105) Code of Hammurabi also created social classes that had not been previously recognized. ...
Hammurabi was the sixth, but most well known, ruler of Babylon (reigning from 1792 to 1750 BC). He is so well know, in fact, Hammurabi is the often credited with creating Babylonian empire. ... Hammurabi's Code of Laws consisted of some 282+ specific laws covering every imaginable problem or situation of the era. ... Some of Hammurabi's Laws were extremely detailed and others were often left to interpretation. ... Historians now believe Hammurabi's accomplishments may have been exaggerated, partly because of the fame he gained when his Code of Laws was discovered. ...
Hammurabi's Code is the oldest known record of written law. ... This law reveals that Hammurabi wanted to protect his people above everything else. The most interesting fact about all of Hammurabi's codes is the lack of religious laws. ... Hammurabi's code might be the most important set of laws know to societies today. Hammurabi tried to maintain social order by regulating morality, and respect. ...
Hammurabis punishments are far more severe than those of today. ... Death is punishment for most every crime imaginable in Hammurabi's time, but I suppose if people are scared to death, they are less likely to do something wrong. ... This automatically shows that all Hammurabi's written laws were unequal and unfair. ... This was also another thing that Hammurabi looked upon was a persons status, meaning class, money, wealth, and the way of life a person had. ... If we were still under the laws of Hammurabi, I couldn't explain how much life would be different, then it...
Both the Ten Commandments and Hammurabi's Code claim divine origins. ... In similar fashion, Hammurabi claimed to receive the code from Shamash, the Babylonian sun god. ... Claiming divine origin gave Hammurabi's code acceptance and minimized opposition. The Ten Commandments and Hammurabi's Code are structured differently. ... Hammurabi's Code lists"282 laws cover[ing] a range of public and private matters" (9). ...
