Hammurabi was a Babylonian king who reigned from about 1792-1750 BC. By the end of his reign Hammurabi's empire stretched from the Persian Gulf through the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys to the Mediterranean Sea. Hammurabi's most well known achievement was the development of 282 laws known as the code of Hammurabi, which strictly governed Babylonian life. His code was not the first or only set of laws controlling the Mesopotamian people but the records of it survived better than other codes. The code of Hammurabi was based on the principal of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." Aside from his law code Hammurabi was also an accomplished military leader who extended his reign and kept it under a central government.
The Code of Hammurabi organizes society into three classes: the amelu, the muskinu and the ardu, in that order .Ii is based on "an eye for an eye" but this only applies to upper classmen or patricians who commit crimes against other members in the same class or if a lower classmen commits a crime against a patrician. If a lower classmen is the victim of a crime they receive a small payment for their damages. This shows that there is an obvious class system that favors that rich or noblemen.
Having certain jobs under the code of Hammurabi could be dangerous. If you were a physician and you caused your patient to lose a limb or an eye, your hands would be cut off.
Hammurabi also made laws to protect consumers. For example, If a builders house is not sound and it causes death or loss of goods the builder would be killed or he would build another house at his expense. This would certainly motivate the builder to build a house of good quality; therefore protecting the consumer. Hammurabi also sets the cost of services to so the buyer does not get overcharged and sets the price lower for lower classmen since they don't have as much money. .
In situations where innocence or guilt could not be proven Hammurabi's code uses the sacred river to decide.
