...different kingdoms under the protection and governance of the one great umbrella of Babylon. As a ruler of a large society, Hammurabi recognized the need for organized law and knew that in order to govern effectively he had to establish his authority as a fair and impartial ruler. It is generally accepted that Hammurabi’s Code was developed around 1780 BC, during his 44 year rule as king. The Amorites believed that kings were appointed by the gods to administer the law and protect the kingdom. Hammurabi’s Code was a set of 282 laws which established rules for bringing accusations against another and the corresponding punishments to fit the crimes committed, through an “eye for an eye” mentality. The development of Hammurabi’s Code gave structure and order to the kingdom by addressing each of the three social classes; the poor (mushkenu: a free person who was essentially lower or middle class), the rich (awilu: a free person of the upper class), and the slaves (wardu). The code also shows consideration for the protection of women and children and for the weak and the poor (that they might not be destroyed by the strong or the rich and powerful). The code also addressed unpaid debt, allowable reasons for a man or a woman to divorce and provisions to be made for spousal and child support. It also established severe consequences for bringing false accusations, or for verdicts and punishments rendered in error. “If a judge tries a case, reaches a decision, and presents...
Words: 652 - Pages: 3
...Hammurabi’s Code was the first set of written laws and were active from 1792 BC to 1750 BC when Hammurabi was ruling Babylon. Put up for all to see, they were one of the greatest achievements of the time, but they have been heatedly debated for ages. “Are they fair? Are they not?” These questions have been asked by everyone. But generally they are quite fair. In fact, I think our government should take note and some of the ideas should be made into laws now. In fact, some of them already are. Hammurabi’s laws are fair, and they resulted in a breakthrough that changed the world forever. “If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out. If he breaks another man’s bone, his bone shall be broken.” These two sentences are excerpts from Hammurabi’s Code, numbers 196 & 197. They are the inspiration for...
Words: 958 - Pages: 4
...Hammurabi’s code was not just because it was not fair to everyone in a criminal situation. Everybody knew there were consequences for their actions. If a person is about to die, and the doctor is trying to help, but the person still dies - the doctor is punished by having his hands cut off. Law 196 says, “If a man has knocked an eye of a free man, his eye shall be knocked out”. Then Law 199 says, “If he has knocked out the eye of a slave, then he shall pay half his value”. This is not far to the slave because he is a man just like the “free” man. Also Law 48, talks about how if a creditor gives a man money for his crops, but a flood prevents the crops from growing, the creditor does not get his money back. The code was supposed to protect....
Words: 506 - Pages: 3
...Hammurabi’s code: Was it just? The code of Hammurabi, the most complete and perfect extant(still in existence) collection of Babylonian laws, developed during the reign of Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC) of the 1st day dynasty of Babylon. I think Hammurabi’s code is just because it tells that if someone does a false accusation and they can’t prove that the other person did the crime they will be put to death. Now that is just that way they can keep the peace and protect the person just in case they didn’t like the person. Hammurabi’s code consists of legal decisions that were collected toward the end of his reign and inscribed on a diorite stela (A big tall rock) set up in Babylon’s temple of Marduk, the national god of Babylonian. Hammurabi...
Words: 340 - Pages: 2
...Stirling McKelvie Art2090: Hammurabi’s Code Dr. Palm 30 August 2016 Introduction The Hammurabi’s Code was meant to ensure justice for everyone, but not equally. Upon reading the codes, I realized that there was a great deal of inequality between genders and social classes. In some cases, paying a sum to the elders helped get you out of being executed. Slaves were looked at as property rather than individuals. Helping a slave escape was just the same as theft. If someone’s house was a target for burglary, the community would compensate for stolen goods. Nevertheless, this would only apply to those of high social status considering the poor didn’t have much property or goods. Feelings Associated with Gender One initial feeling I experienced...
Words: 635 - Pages: 3
... Bodnar 1 Mrs. Guler Honors World Civ Document Based Question Hammurabi’s Law Code Document Based Question Walking down the street in Babylonia, it was not an uncommon sight to see dead people hanging in the walls of houses. This was one of the many punishments for crime 1754 BCE in Babylon. The laws were written by the king, Hammurabi, who claimed that the laws were given to him by the gods to help protect the weak. “Hammurabi, the protecting king am I…That the strong might not injure the weak, in order to protect the widows and orphans” (Document B) The laws were written...
Words: 1903 - Pages: 8
...Hammurabi’s code was it just or unjust? Hammurabi’s code was a set of 282 laws that were written by the king of Babylon Hammurabi in 1792 BCE. He said that he was told to write and enforce those laws by the god Shamash. Hammurabi was the only person who could change the laws. There are three areas of law where Hammurabi’s Code can be shown to be unjust. These are family laws property laws, and personal injury laws. Examples of injustice can first be found in the area of family law. First, law number 129 states that if a woman is caught cheating that she and the person whom she cheated with will be tied up and drowned. Second, law number 195 states that id a son hits his father that the consequence to his actions is that he will have his hands cut off. These examples show tat Hammurabi’s Code was unjust because the laws that Hammurabi created for families were too harsh. Hitting your father should not result in your hands being cut off, although it does deserve a punishment the one in place was too strict. Also cheating on you significant other does not need to be punished by death....
Words: 600 - Pages: 3
...Yes Hammurabi's Code was fair, laws like 196 "Eye for an Eye", 23 "If a robber isn't caught, man robbed gets their thingss replced by city"and law 195 "If son hits parents, his hands shall get cut off" are many reason explaining why. How do you feel about law 196? I think it is fair that if someone knocks out the eye of another, his eye shall be knocked out too. Hammurabi's Code is fair, because it fought for protection for all people, served justice, and treated people fairly by creating such laws. Law 196 was one reason why it was fair. For example, if a man walks up to another man and kicks him he should get kicked back. You should treat people the way you want to be treated, and if you treat someone bad expect the same thing...
Words: 278 - Pages: 2
...Hammurabi's code was unjust because of it's family laws.A good example of how Hammurabi's code was unjust is law 129 (Doc C). In Law 129 it states ¨If a married lady is caught (in adultery) with another man, they shall bind them and cast them into the water.¨ This means the married lady and the man she is having an affair with will be tied together and thrown into water to drown. In the end two people will have lost their lives to this law. This punishment is too harsh, if a wife does not want to confront her husband and divorce because it will hurt his feelings she would have to hide her affair with another man. What if they weren't having an affair and someone saw them and thought they were. The woman cannot divorce, only men could and it...
Words: 461 - Pages: 2
...present day is known as Iraq. (Ancient Mesopotamia) Hammurabi created a list of rules and laws for the people of his empire to follow called “The Code of Hammurabi”. This is one of the oldest and most detailed documents in existence and gives insight as to how the members of Babylonian society lived. The code listed 282 rules for society to obey by and the consequences or guidelines for each member given their social status and their gender. There were rules of every category. From marriage and adultery, criminal acts such a stealing, property, and monetary trading. What’s interesting about this rulebook is the detail and coverage of the book. While in today’s world we may not follow rules such as “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth” like the Code of Hammurabi, whose punishments for a crime were much more extravagant and gruesome at times. There was segregation in gender and social status. The topics addressed in the code are some of the same topics addressed that we, today, value and instill. In today’s government we have laws of crime and punishment, monetary laws, and laws regarding marriage. We have these laws so we can have structure and a successful government and society. It’s amazing how such early civilization started these fundamentals and on some linear level, had the same values. Not discovered until 1901, the Code of Hammurabi shows us how Hammurabi viewed himself and the people of Babylon. This insight is significant. Hammurabi believed he could run his empire...
Words: 2731 - Pages: 11
...Hammurabi’s Code is the first set of laws ever to be translated. These set of 282 laws were created by Hammurabi, the sixth king of Babylon in 1758 B.C. The laws were made to make order for the citizens under his rule. The laws prove that the Babylonians had a culture, which is a way of life for a group of people. In a culture, there is a government where there would be judges to see if the citizen is guilty or innocent. A society, whether if the families were patriarchal, where men exercised authority or matriarchal, where women exercised authority, and an economy, the Babylonians had a form of currency and a way of trade. Hammurabi's Code is a useful source for an anthropologist studying Babylonian culture because it provides examples of ancient government, society, and economy. First of all in Hammurabi’s Code, there were laws that proved that there was ancient...
Words: 1151 - Pages: 5
...Relationships between Families by Hammurabi’s Law Relationships between Families by Hammurabi’s Law Hammurabi laws deal with all aspects of everyday life, and it describes both major and minor offenses and their punishments. It is one of the first written codes of law in history, and it is the longest code that has been discovered. The laws were made to equalize society, establish justice and fairness, bring about the rule of righteousness, and protect the weak from the strong. However, the rich and poor, men and women, and elites and commoners were treated differently under the law. This deepened the social hierarchy and distinctions between classes and genders, which soon became normal and accepted in society. L. W. King states that “Hammurabi laws also influenced the need for one, powerful leader. It used the political power to generate bonds between the people of different races and backgrounds. The Code of Hammurabi was developed by the Babylonian ruler, Hammburabi. He ruled Babylon, which he expanded to cover most of Mesopotamia, from 1792-1750 BCE. Laws, judgments, and decrees were incorporated into the 282 laws that make up the code. The code was given to Hammurabi by the sun God, Shamash. The Babylonian God, Marduk, facilitated Hammurabi's rule. He gave Hammurabi the authority to rule Babylon. Also, the code gave people moral standards, created distinct social classes, and worked to create equality. It was supposed to "protect the weak from the strong", but it in...
Words: 1874 - Pages: 8
...Hammurabi’s code caused the loss of hands, money, and lives. Hammurabi was the sixth king of Babylon ruling from 1792 BC to 1750 BC and known for his strict laws, Hammurabi’s code. Hammurabi’s laws were unjust because his code caused loss of body parts, harsh punishments for the slightest fault, and unfair class divisions. Hammurabi's code was unjust because for the hitting of a father the son would loose his hands. Law 195 states,”If a son strikes his father his hands shall be cut off”. Law 218 states,” If a surgeon operates with a bronze lancet on a free man because of serious injury, and has caused his death……. His hand shall be cut off”. This is unfair because if the patient comes to the surgeon too late he will die either way causing...
Words: 320 - Pages: 2
...Who was Hammurabi? Hammurabi was the first Dynasty King of Babylon, which is a city-state in Iraq. Hammurabi was the king of Babylon for 42 years. He made many laws that are still used today in some places. The laws are known as “Hammurabi’s Code.” I believe that some of Hammurabi’s Code is unjust. First off some of the laws are too extreme for the crime, such as Law 21. Law 21 states, “If a man has broken through the wall [to rob] a house, they shall put him to death and pierce him, or hang him in the hole in the wall which he has made.’’ (Excerpts from Hammurabi’s Code, circa 1754 BCE) Just because someone steals something doesn’t mean that they should die. Today people might accidentally steal something small and not return...
Words: 394 - Pages: 2
...A king of Babylon named Hammurabi created 282 laws to keep problems in order. These laws went by the name of Hammurabi’s Code. However, were these laws just? Although there is a variety of laws, nearly all were not. There are three categories I will choose to prove my point. The categories I will be talking about are the Family Law, the Personal Property Law, and the Personal Injury Law. To start with, Hammurabi’s Code negatively bothered some family members. For example, in Law 168 it said,”If a son has struck his father, his hands shall be cut off.” Moreover, Law 128 states the following,”If a married lady is caught[in adultery] with another man, they shall bind them and cast them into the water.” Based on what I read, Law 195 says if a son disrespects his father by hitting him, his hands shall be cut off. This law negatively bothers the son considering that the effect is too strong for what he did, cutting off his hands should not be the way to fix the problem. Law 129 also bothers them, so much that their hands become tied and then drowned to death. This shows that Hammurabi’s laws are too harsh for the committed misdemeanors. As you will notice, he should have made his laws based on how...
Words: 597 - Pages: 3
