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Hammurabi's Code of Laws The Law Code of Hammurabi is one of the oldest public documents we have to tell us how the ancient world was like. Description of the Laws • The Code of Hammurabi is an ancient preserved law code created in 1790 B.C in ancient Babylon. Hammurabi collected laws form the entire Babylonian Empire to make his law code • It was written by the sixth Babylonian king Hammurabi. • One nearly complete example of the Code is left today, inscribed on a seven foot, four inch tall, in basalt steel, in the cuneiform written Language. Relevant Dates • The the full Code of Hammurabi was discovered in 1901 by the Egyptologist Gustav Jequier. • Fractions of the code stones have been found all around the areas conquered by the Babylonians Purpose of Creation • First ever written entire body of laws, arranged in orderly groups, so that all men might read and know what was required of them. Now everyone knew the laws • The law code were thought of as a prayer, though the prayers here are chiefly cursing of whoever shall neglect or destroy the law. • The judge who lies in a law case is to be removed from his position forever. • The witness who testifies falsely is to be killed. Indeed, all the heavier crimes are made punishable with death. • It is reasonable to believe that there was a bit of crime and disorder in ancient Mesopotamia, especially given the issues the different city-states had. And the laws in each area changed, so Hammurabi made the law uniform for all of the areas under Babylonian control Code of Hammurabi 1800 BCE Set of divinely inspired laws (laws came from the gods); as well as societal laws from many different city states. Punishments were designed to fit the crimes as people must be responsible for own actions Origin of “eye for an eye…” If a son struck his father, son’s hand would be cut off Consequences for crimes depended on rank in society Poor/workers = hand chopped off, nobles = pay a fine So the law code was not equal for all classes. Hammurabi receiving law code from sun god Shamash Importance to the Ancients • Hammurabi's Code of the ancient Mesopotamian society was important because it set the first written laws in human history. • The code contained 282 laws written in 12 tablets in the cuneiform language which was common in Babylonia. • This work is also a great source of information about the society, religion, economy, and history of this period. • Each part describes in detail a crime or incident, and the punishment/procedure for it. Hammurabi's Code Reflection Assignment A Reminder: The MINIMUM is 3 full, well thought out sentences per paragraph. I want you to exhibit analysis and advanced thinking in reflections. NO FLUFF! Paragraph 1. What does Hammurabi's Code tell you about life in Mesopotamia? Does it appear that crime was a problem? Why do you think his penalties for the specific crimes were so harsh? Paragraph 2. Describe and explain the differences between U.S. and state law and Hammurabi's laws. Why do you think these differences exist? Explain the differences. Paragraph 3. Do you think MOTIVE (i.e. WHY someone does something) should be considered in a law case? Do you think Hammurabi cared why someone broke the law? Why or why not, and explain.