Hammurabi was a Babylonian king who reigned from 1792 to 1750 B.C. Hammurabi is known as the sixth and best known ruler of the first Babylonian dynasty. He ruled central Mesopotamia at first. Although he is mostly famous for his set of written laws, he has also made great advancements. In the 30th year of his reign, Hammurabi began expanded his kingdom up and down the Tigris and Euphrates river valley, taking over the kingdoms of Assyria, Larsa, Eshunna and Mari which eventually took over all Mesopotamia. He made great advancements for the better of his kingdom by combining military and politics with irrigation projects, fortifications, and construction of temples. The size location and military strength of his land to rule made it one of …show more content…
The Hammurabi code stone is 7’ 5’’x 1’ 10’’. Hammurabi’s most recognized advancement was having the first recorded set of laws on a stone tablet having 282 laws for punishment and well being of civilians under his ruling. Some laws were worse for the wealthier upper class and receive harsher punishments. The Hammurabi code gave women quite a few important rights in these ancient times, they could be doctors, priests, and almost anything that men could. They were not classified by gender but by class. His intention was hold those under his rule responsible for his or her actions and inspire the “appropriate behaviors.” In fact, according to literature, the code functioned on the principle of “lex talionis” which basically translates as the “law of retaliation”. The code laws were sometimes very harsh punishments literally eye for eye and tooth for tooth. For example if man stole anything like a livestock animal he must pay 30 times its value. If a doctor helps heal a wound then you would owe the doctor 10 silver shekels, if a doctor killed a rich man his hands would be cut off. If you spot a runaway slave and you bring him to the owner they must pay you two silver shekels. The Babylonians obviously did not live under a system that treated everyone equal but this proves early civilization of a governmental system ruling over the three classes; wealthy or noble persons, lower-class persons or commoners and slaves. I conclude that although these laws weren’t always