...Code of Hammurabi The code of Hammurabi was written by King Hammurabi, the sixth king of the first babylonian dynasty.Hammurabi ruled the Babylonian Empire from 1792 BC. to 1750 BC. Hammurabi came to power by using his advanced military and political tactics to unite many smaller city states to unite his mighty empire. Not long after his reign began, Hammurabi created the code of hammurabi. Written on large clay tablets, the code of Hammurabi consisted of 262 rules/laws covering a variety of subjects including adultery,family law and property law. Hammurabi created these laws following a philosophy of the punishment must fit the crime. In essence, the magnitude of a crime must fit the magnitude of the punishment. Furthermore, the code of Hammurabi played a detrimental role in the development of the babylonian empire. Many speculations can be made from reading these rather harsh, laws about the babylonian empire. Law’s played an important role in the development of Hammurabi’s empire....
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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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...Question 1: Why is the Hammurabi Code considered to be so important? The Law Stele of Hammurabi or the Hammurabi code is perhaps one of the oldest, most comprehensive and influential codification of laws ever created in ancient times. The intricately chiselled basalt pillar (or Stele) upon which the codes are written is considered an historical work of art, history and literature which is now housed in the Louvre in Paris, France (André-Salvini, 2003). It towers over 7.5 feet tall and the text is chiselled into solid stone. King Hammurabi (c. 1792 – 1750 B.C.E.) commissioned its construction to create a sovereign authority of universal laws throughout the Babylonian empire and as a demonstration of his duty to the gods and the citizens (Roth, 1995). It is a collaboration of pre-existing laws gathered from around the Babylonian Empire. The Hammurabi code served as not only an educational tool to “enlighten the land [but also created legal precedent] to further the well-being of mankind” (Hammurabi, 1752 B.C.E). The sheer height and shape of the structure alone is a testament to his...
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...to Hammurabi’s code a father can choose to disinherit his son. Now what even is Hammurabi’s code is the question. Hammurabi’s code is the first ever set of laws made over 4,000 years ago and it is important because it helped shape our laws we have today. These laws were made to protect the weak. I believe that Hammurabi’s code is unjust because people did not get to help make the laws or give idea’s, laws were different for different genders, and laws depended on your social class. These laws need to be the same for everyone because laws impact all people that live...
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...formed laws and created order. Order was the key to these societies survival and one civilization set the tone for the rest. That civilization was that of Babylon; they formed that order with an abundance of laws. Now after reading “Babylonian law: How an early state regulated it’s subjects” from J.M. Powis Smith I will compare Babylon to modern day America. Based on my reading of the article “Babylonian Law” I have found that this society was quite intolerant of most crimes. For example Law 1 of The Code says “If a man accuses a man, and charges him with murder, but cannot convict him, the accuser shall be put to death.” It is clear to me that this society has very strong values and will not just look the other way if an incident occurs. To me it is also apparent that the Babylonian society believed very heavily in getting even. In law 196 The Code states “If a man destroys the eye of another man, they shall destroy his eye.” The belief in getting even is also apparent in law 197 The Code states “If he breaks a man’s bone, they shall break his bone.” Although I feel that the Babylonian society has very high values to me some of their laws were a little extreme. I can see a few similarities in the Babylonian laws and those of modern day. Although I find these laws similar most of the time it is only because of the fact that it is acknowledged as a law. I say this because of the penalties of the crimes. For example in law 218 “If a physician makes a deep incision upon a man with his...
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...accept that his will could be bound by the law. It explicitly protected certain rights of the King's subjects, whether free or fettered most notably the writ of habeas corpus, allowing appeal against unlawful imprisonment that led to the rule of constitutional law today in the English speaking world. The earliest legal system known in its entirety is the Code of Hammurabi which was established in ancient Babylonia nearly 4000 years ago. The Code of Hammurabi was compiled by King Hammurabi himself. Hammurabi was the most notable ruler of the first Babylonian dynasty, and unified Mesopotamia under one central government. Hammurabi's life is unknown, it is predicted that he established his reign around 1792-1750 B.C., thus dating the Code to approximately this period. Draco was a legislator in Athens who was authorized by the Alcmaeonidae to write the law codes around 621 B.C. It marked the first time the laws in Athens were set down in writing and they were lauded for their impartiality. Although impartial, according to Aristotle, the newly-recorded laws were so harsh they were written in blood instead of ink. Under Draco's codes, even the most...
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...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...
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...The Stele of Naram-Sin is a massive piece of limestone that has been carved in relief style to commemorate a victory between two warring civilizations. This stone slab is taller than most people standing at 6’6”. The battle scene engraved on this stone slab is between Naram-Sin, ruler of the Akkadian people, and the Lullubi. At the top of the stele there are three suns that shine brightly onto mountain in which Naram-Sin is marching his army up in a diagonal path. In the sky just below the suns and on the mountain there are cuneiform script printed that describes the victory. The cuneiform that is on inscribed on the mountain is just on the right side; the left side of the mountain is bare. The cuneiform inscribed confirms that this stele depicts a battle that was won at Zagaros Mountain. At the base of the main peak of the mountain there is an injured Lullubi with a spear in his neck. The Lullubi people are scattered throughout the stele in a very disorganized fashion predominantly on the right side of the stele. Their weapons are depicted as inferior to that of the Akkadian people’s, some are broken and some are smaller. Naram-Sin is depicted much larger than anyone else in the stele. The use of hieratic scale here amplifies artist’s decision to place Naram-Sin in the center of the composition. Naram-Sin is holding a sword, a bow and a spear as he tramples over his fallen foes. He is shown to possess well defined muscular features in addition to a horned helmet. The army...
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...Hammurabi’s code was the main cause of law and government. This was the first real form of government. Both are a way to control citizens of a nation. The laws and government are a source of a criminal and court system. The criminal and court system created by Hammurabi’s government was a major cause of the reparations in Germany for war crimes. If there was no criminal or court system, there wouldn’t be a need for the reparations or even the war crimes themselves. Cave art was the earliest known form of written interaction. The cave drawings led to honing drawing and painting skills which led up to modernization of art. The modernization of art led up to romanticism. Romanticism led up to and was a major role in the renaissance. Drawing and...
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...Analyzing the laws in this society, highlights the fact that the people of the Babylon had to work for any and everything they had. The Hummurabi’s law tells shows that social standings were important in ancient Babylonia where nobles ranked completely above slaves and even normal civilization. Giving the society a consistent system in which they are able to solve problems and understand their place in the society. Getting the perception that many slaves were because of debts of the people, wars, and other events that lead to this. The law shows that the population had specialized and vowed tasks, being expected to live up to these tasks to society of suffer the consequence. Crimes that were against nobles and regular civilization were punished...
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...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....
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...Introduction Paragraph Have you ever heard of Hammurabi’s code ? Hammurabi was a king in Mesopotamia nearly 4,000 years ago . He ruled the kingdom of Babylonia for 42 years .Hammurabi’s codes were laws that needed to be followed in his kingdom . The purpose Hammurabi’s code was to protect his people . Hammurabi’s code was just for 3 reasons Family law's , Creation of codes , and Property laws . Examples of just laws can first be found in the area of Creation of Codes . The first example is “ Below the two figures down in the prologue in which Hammurabi lists the names of the gods , saying that they have given him the right to rule “.This means that all the gods gave Hammurabi the right to rule . This matters to show it is just because...
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...A stone pillar was found with laws inscribed in it, now people are left arguing over its punishments and rewards. 1754 B.C.E. Mesopotamia, the land between the Euphrates and Tigris River in Asia, a leader named Hammurabi had a stone pillar filled with 282 laws for the citizens of Babylonia published to protect the weak, the widowed, and the orphaned. I believe that Hammurabi’s Code helped people. Hammurabi’s Code was just and protected a lot of people. The laws work well for the victims of a crime. The laws are reasonable to the accused. The laws help society grow. The code works out for the victims. In law 23, if someone gets robbed and the robber is not caught then whatever was stolen will be replaced by the person in charge of that area...
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...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 with causes and consequences. The consequences of an action are harsh and brutal. In my opinion, i think this is the strategy to scare the evil doers. In the Writings...
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...trial, when right in the middle a person comes in and confesses to the crime. Suddenly, the current trial ends and a new trial begins: against you. The judge decides to cut your hands off for falsely accusing someone while the thief gets away scot-free. I bet you’re thinking that it would be totally unfair to get your hands cut off while a thief gets away with stealing your wallet, just because you thought someone else stole it, then you are completely correct. However, if you lived during Hammurabi’s rule, then this situation might have actually happened. Hammurabi was an ancient king who ruled a small city-state in Mesopotamia, called Babylonia. Hammurabi ruled for 42 years from 1834 BCE (Before Common Era) - 1792BCE. Near the end of Hammurabi's of rule, he created a law code which he carved on a large stone column called a stele. Now you know a little background, we can start answering our main question: Was Hammurabi’s Code just? I don’t think so and here are three reasons why. Hammurabi’s Family Law was unjust; this is shown in Law 129 where if a man wants to marry a second wife because his first wife is sick, he could become sick infecting who know how many other people! (Doc C) Or in Law 195 is unfair because the punishment for striking your father is cutting your hands off!(Doc C) What if your father was being really mean and hits you because he was angry at someone else? Sometimes you have to defend...
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