...Preface: Hammurabi was a Babylonian king who ruled from 1792 to 1750 B.C. His attributes were he extended his empire northward from the Persian Gulf to the Tigris and Euphrates River and west to the Mediterranean Sea. He united the area into one extensive empire, Mesopotamia, which in 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...
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...An Eye for the Truth The Laws of ancient civilizations may be confusing to some people nowadays, but, when put into the context of the location, time, and mindset of the people who created these laws, they become much more reasonable within that framework. In this essay, two distinct sets of laws from the ancient civilizations will be compared and contrasted; The Code of Hammurabi, by Hammurabi, the sixth Babylonian king in the 1700s B.C. and the Ten Commandments and Exodus, written, or at least attributed to Moses. The first difference that must be noted is the way that the laws are introduced, or the prologues, one obviously polytheistic, the other blatantly monotheistic. The Code of Hammurabi says in its prologue, “at that time Anum and Enlil named me to promote the welfare of the people.”1 It also mentions Igigi and Anumnaki, minor gods who attend to the major gods Enlil and Anum respectively, so very clearly a polytheistic setting there, as these gods appoint Hammurabi as the promoter of the people’s welfare. The Ten Commandments states, in contrast, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, you shall have no other gods before me.”2 This starting sentence immediately says that there is only one god, and later in the passage it also mentions as one of the laws not to create any idol.3 These two societies then might be said to have different social values in the idea that as a monotheistic person, you would be expected...
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...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 turn favored the rich and was harsher on the poor. After the fall of Babylon, Hammurabi left a...
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...The Ancient Mesopotamian Law Hammurabi was an Amorite who lived and reigned from 1792 BC to 1750 BC. He is remembered in history as the 6th king of the Mesopotamian Society. He is known as a great leader who conquered and brought many 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...
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...beginning of civilization in Mesopotamia. The Sumerian culture thrived between the years 3000 and 2350 B.C. under the rule of two prominent leaders, Gilgamesh then Urukagina. It was within the Sumerian culture that writings, mathematics, science, as well as other advances were made by within civilization. In the city of Uruk is where King Gilgamesh built his empire and ruled the people (Ancient Pages, 2016). As a ruler, Gilgamesh was said to have constructed great walls, designed and built impressive structures, implemented irrigation for farming, as well as a number of other magnificent feats. The society within Sumer was geared toward a rich cultural life as well as a maintained lifestyle. The city of Uruk was known for its busy streets full of activity, the people of the society looked at Gilgamesh as a demigod with superhuman strength and ability. King Gilgamesh ruled the city for over one hundred and twenty years before he died of old age. The second notable ruler of the Sumerian culture arose to power later, Urukagina was said to have rewritten the code of law as well as rebuilt the unstable economy in the empire...
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...From the perspective of a twenty-first century historian, looking back on eighteenth century BCE Babylon, it is easy to consider it a “civilization”. Babylon’s sophisticated and complicated judicial system and method of social hierarchy are far to overpowering to be looked past. Although the roles of women were limited and not elaborate to say the least, it cannot vie against the strength of the other principles and the international legacy they have left on the world. Babylon was in fact a civilization that included sophisticated systems of law and social hierarchy, but lacked progression in women’s opportunity. First of all, the Babylonian justice system includes the most famous code of law ever assembled. Hammurabi, a king of ancient Babylon wrote a code...
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...Justice in the Rise of Civilization Individual city and states began to unite under common leadership. To create a perfect empire is a challenge task to those who attempting the task. To conquer and control the new empire come up with its own problems. In order to reach a perfect society , Ruler must aware that the key to the success is the code of conduct or the law to govern his or her society. Justice is essential to regulate peaceful and tranquil society. To solve this issue , most rulers from the past enacted laws with brutally consequences for the culprit. The Code of Hammurabi was written by Hammurabi , the Ruler of Babylonian Empire (1795-1750 BCE), which was a code of conduct for citizen of this empire to follow. It was carved on a large stone and clearly shown the cause and the consequences of an action led by a person. He was intend to bring the virtuous in to his land and eliminate all the iniquitous people from the land. The Writings of Master Han Fei was a writing of Master Han Fei , a Chinese Philosopher (280-233 BCE), that express his idea of Legalist thinking. Which later guided the customary of Qin Dynasty’s Shihuangdi. The basic principle is based on the equality of the people. “High and low would have no distinction”, The right is to bestow rewards and the wrong is subject to be condemn. Both sources have the similar thought of bringing an empire to a righteous state by enact a harsh law. In the Code of Hammurabi , Laws are clearly stated...
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...Mesopotamia/Babylon History Babylon was probably the most famous city of ancient Mesopotamia. Until today the city is a symbol for wealth, power, and sin (largely due to its treatment in the Bible). The name Babylon is the Greek form of Babel of Babili, which means "the gate of the god" in Semitic, which again is the translation of the original Sumerian name Ka-dimirra. The god was probably Marduk, the divine patron of the city. Like the other great Sanctuaries of Babylonia, the temple of Marduk had been founded in pre-Semitic times and the future Babylon grew around it. As Marduk was the son of Ea, the patron god of Eridu, it is possible that Babylon was a colony of Eridu. The earliest mention of Babylon is in a dated tablet of the reign of Sargon of Akkad (2334-2279 BCE), who is stated to have built sanctuaries there. Babylon remained a provincial town until it became the capital of the first dynasty of Babylon and then Hammurabi's empire, around 1795-1750 BCE. From this time onward it continued to be the capital of Babylonia and the holy city of western Asia. The claim to supremacy in Mesopotamia was not fulfilled de jure until the claimant had "taken the hands" of Marduk at Babylon. It was this which made Tiglath-pileser III (ruled 745-727 BCE) and other Assyrian kings so anxious to possess themselves of Babylon and to thus legitimize their power. Only Sennacherib of Assyria (reigned 704-681 BCE) failed to secure the support of the Babylonian priesthood, and subsequently...
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...started long ago, in different civilizations, all over the globe. I will briefly describe six different laws that led to what we based our current laws and security off of. The Code of Hammurabi, Draco’s Law, Law of the Twelve Tables, Justinian Code, Magna Carta, and the Statute of Westminister. The Code of Hammurabi was established by King Hammurabi of Babylon. This code is where “eye for an eye” was founded. Their laws were set up to regulate everything in their society from a person’s obligations, their work, and their rights. If a person is found to be in violation of these codes, the punishment was barbaric and based on retaliation. Draco’s law was named after the person who wrote the code of law for Athens, Greece. These were the first written laws for Greece. Within these laws, the state is responsible for punishing the people accused of a crime. The Law of the Twelve Tables originated in Rome. Originally it was ten laws that were decided by 10 men that were given the power to write the laws to govern the Romans. These laws helped to form the foundation of modern law. It basically started the use of judges to prosecute the aggressor and award the victim. The Justinian Code was written by Emperor Justinian. He wrote a series of books called “Corpus Juris Civilis”. He inspired the modern concepts of Justice, which actually came from his name. This code formed civil law and one main legal system that governed western civilization. The Magna Carta, which most...
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...Cities and Civilizations Review What is a civilization? What caused the shift from hunting & gathering to farming? How did this affect mankind? Around 8000 B.C. a shift began… It was called the Neolithic Revolution This brings in the “New Stone Age” What is the REVOLUTION? A TOTALLY new way of living: Going from Hunter Gathers to Agriculture The invention of Agriculture changed the way people lived. Agriculture (Farming) Growth of Cities Division of Labor (Specialization) Trade Writing and Mathematics ---Why does ‘trade’ bring about writing and mathematics? Mesopotamia – Fertile Crescent Sumer – The Earliest of the River Valley Civilizations Sumerians grew up along the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in what is now Kuwait. What is the “Fertile Crescent.”? A well-watered and fertile area, that arcs across the northern part of the Syrian desert. The Fertile Crescent * Greeks called the northern part of the Fertile Crescent …Mesopotamia which means “The Land Between Two Rivers” (Tigris River and Euphrates River) * The southern part of Mesopotamia was called Babylonia, originally Sumer. Which country is Mesopotamia today? (Iraq) Sumer - Sumerians (Kuwait) ca. 3500 to 3000 BC. * Sumer gave us the city-state. * Political unit made up of a city and the surrounding lands. Each city state has its own government, even when it shared a culture with neighboring city states. Sumerian Writing: Cuneiform Cuneiform is created...
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...Code of Hammurabi Western Civilization and the World I 100 Professor Preface This paper will examine the Code of Hammurabi and how it affected the people of Babylon before, during and after its creation. The nature of the topic is to have a better understanding of how the Code of Hammurabi changed society, hindered women’s rights and independence and left a lasting impression for future generations. Chronology 1810 BC Hammurabi was born to the then-king of Babylon Sin-muballit. 1792 BC Hammurabi, king of Babylon, started his rule. 1787 BC King Hammurabi captured Uruk and Isin. 1784 BC King Hammurabi campaigned against Rapigum and Malgium. 1772 BC Code of Hammurabi was created. 1763 BC With the aid of Mari and Eshnunna King Hammurabi conquered Larsa, putting an end to the long reign of Rim-Sin I. 1755 BC Captured Eshnunna which was the last of his Mesopotamian rivals. 1750 BC King Hammurabi died and passed the reigns of the empire to his son, Samsu-iluna. 1738 BC Under Samsu-iluna’s rule his empire fell to the Sealand Dynasty. 1595 BC Babylonian empire restored to glory of the Hammurabi’s age. 1901 Code of Hammurabi monument is discovered by French archaeologists. 1910 The Code of Hammurabi was translated by Leonard William King. During the rule of King Hammurabi he wrote the Code of Hammurabi. This consisted of many laws that changed the society, hindered women’s rights and independence and left a lasting impression for future generations...
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...Where would our world be today if the ancient civilizations in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Palestine did not exist? Who do we have to thank for their achievements? What contributions did they make to society? In these paragraphs the ancient world of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Palestine will come back to life as I talk about their achievements and contributions that helped not only to their civilizations, but helps to the future civilizations to come. In 2650 B.C. Egypt's Old Kingdom era began. (Document 1) During this time period dynasties were created and in those dynasties were Egyptian rulers called pharaohs. The pharaohs had majestic pyramids as tombs built to show their power. These pyramids started the architectural development. Every since the Egyptian civilization started the Egyptians believed in faithful life after death. On judgment day the more pure you are the better and kinder judged you will be by Osiris the god of the dead. (Document 3) The Egyptians wore clothing made out of cotton. Cotton is one of the world's most important agricultural products and not many civilizations could grow it so the Egyptians sold it. (Document 4) Egyptians had a system of writing called hieroglyphics. Hieroglyphics are a form of pictures to create an idea. Over time scribes developed demotic a simpler form of writing. They wrote on paper like material called papyrus. The Egyptians were among the first to use something to write on rather than stone and clay tablets. Now today we have...
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...Contemporary Society September 13, 2015 The progression of morality as it relates to the influence of family, religion and society varies between Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Our contemporary society has been influenced tremendously in many different areas by these different societies. Social order in Asia was established by Hammurabi’s Code of Laws. Hammurabi himself was an Amorite king of Babylon, he set these laws to place order in Babylon. Hammurabi’s lex talionus explains that the punishment of a crime should be equal to what crime has been done, these laws are described as “an eye for an eye” and “a tooth for a tooth” (Levack, B., Muir, E., & Veldman, M. (2004).). Hammurabi’s laws were set up for various issues including civil and criminal issues. Though due to one’s social status, laws for free people and laws for slaves were different, but they still held on to the same concept. Hammurabi code of laws helped to mostly shape our justice system. His laws were clear to understand the offenses being committed and consequences that were to be issued. This is present in our society because when one commits a crime or murder they suffer from the consequences in the jail and prison systems. Most of the time when a murder is committed the initial punishment is life in prison or retaliated with death by lethal injection, an eye for an eye. Our current law system is heavily influenced by Hammurabi. As for African influences that are present in our contemporary society, there...
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...The civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt (between 2700 B.C.E. and 1000 B.C.E.) were religiously different, but similar in political and social factors. The Mesopotamians believed that the afterlife was a bad place, while the Egyptians believed that it was heavenly. Both civilizations used writing and storytelling for political gain. Mesopotamia and Egypt were prosperous societies. A list of Egyptian laws or a document about the destruction of an Egyptian city would have helped me with this assignment. A difference between Mesopotamian and Egyptian culture is their religious beliefs for after death. The people of Mesopotamia thought that the afterlife was a cold, dark, hungry place. It is depicted in the Epic of Gilgamesh, saying, “...people...
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...Governments in Ancient Civilizations Peoples in ancient civilizations had different worldviews, and government was an essential aspect of their cultures. How those peoples understood the role of government determined the expectations individuals had from rulers. Some written records provide essential information to understand the differences and similarities of governments of the first civilizations. A comparison and contrast of some of those written records on three ancient civilization aims to provide a description of the different understandings of the role of government in those cultures. The Judgments of Hammurabi, a collection of decisions or laws and the Epic of Gilgamesh, the story of a king, are documents that provide...
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