conserve ancient law.
He established a systematic codification of existing legal .
practices . This is the earliest known example of a ruler ambiguously claiming a body of .
codes/laws to his people. These laws also helped men to know what is expected and .
required from them within their cities. His system of codes or body of laws were called .
Hammurabi's Code. This Code, was based on social orders and classes. It had a strong .
belief that all humans are not equals and everyone has their place in society. These laws .
were written in a eight foot high black stone that was displayed in public for everyone to .
view and follow. The penalties were based on the person doing the crime and the person .
to whom the crime was done unto. Meaning, if the crime was done by a free person to a .
person not only not free but of a lower class, then the punishment was less strict, as well .
as if the crime was committed by a slave to another slave, the crime was practically .
dismissed . In these times both women and slaves had very few human rights and .
protection. It is also stated within the 282 clauses of Hammurabi's Code of Laws that if a .
witness bears false testimony then they are to perish and if a man builds a house and the .
house falls on the owner and dies then the builder of the house shall also die. This way of .
lawmaking is in many respects how Hebrews came to their law of "an eye for an eye" or .
"tooth for a tooth". Or otherwise stating, that you will suffer the same punishment of the .
crime you committed. This doesn't matter whether or not it was your fault or not, you .
basically have no judge or jury in many of their situations. The only exception to this .
was that the accused was allowed to jump in the Euphrates River, since no one knew how .
to swim, and if the river brought him back to shore alive he was considered innocent but .
if he died, then he was considered guilty. The death penalty was freely awarded for theft .
