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http://www.suite101.com/content/hammurabi-s-code-a10818
Hammurabi was the first king of the Babylonian Empire, reigning from 1792 B.C. – 1750 B.C. During his time
in power, he conquered Sumer and Akkad, amassing those cultures for his territory. He is probably best
known for his enduring code of Babylonian laws, known as Hammurabi’s Code.
Though not the only law code around in the Ancient Near East (the codes of UrNammu and Eshnunna predate it by a few hundred years), Hammurabi’s code stands today as a
fundamental example of laws that are so simple that they can not be altered by anyone, not even a king.
The laws, 282 of them in total, catalog a number of crimes and their applicable punishments, with little or no
provision for the accused to offer explanation in his own defense.
Hammurabi’s code, a fine example of the “an eye for an eye” mentality of justice, was established in order to
please the gods he worshipped. It was usual and customary for different Ancient Near Eastern civilizations
to establish their own sets of law codes, and many of them are quite similar in content.
The laws were strict and absolute. Hammurabi’s Code was carved into a large slab of stone of black basalt
(known as a stela) and displayed publicly. Thus, no citizen or slave could claim he was not aware of a
certain law or infraction. This stela, which stood 8 feet high, was discovered in 1901 in Elam, and is now
housed in the Musee de Louvre.
Some of the laws according to Hammurabi include:
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If a man accuses another of a crime, but can’t prove it, the accuser will be put to
death.
If a man accuses another of a crime, and can prove it, the accuser shall receive a
monetary reward.
If a robber is caught while stealing, he is to be put to death.
If a man marries a woman, but has no relations with her, it is not considered a
marriage.
If a slave strikes his owner, his ear shall be cut off.
If a son strikes his mother, his hands shall be cut off.
Own ideas:
As the first king of the Babylonian Empire, Hammurabi made 282 laws of what crimes
were and what the punishment would be. All of these laws were carved into a large piece
of stone. This was found 1901 and is now known as Hammurabi’s Code. Mainly
Hammurabi created these laws to please the gods, and he made the laws extremely strict.
Some of the laws are:
 If a man accuses another of a crime, but can’t prove it, the accuser shall be put to
death
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If a man accuses another of a crime, and can prove it, the accuser shall receive a
monetary reward
If a slave strikes his owner his ear shall be cut of
And so on…
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In my opinion, I think the civilization would have been better if there hadn’t been laws
for cutting of people ears and thing like that. I do not think that the punishments are
suitable for the crime, and even if these crimes happened, I don’t think that people even
should be punished for most of them.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Kings_of_Babylon#The_Babylonian_King_List
Ruler
Reigned
Comments
Emisum
ca. 1940–1912
BC
Samium
ca. 1912–1877
BC
Zabaia
ca. 1877–1868
BC
Son of Samium, First royal inscription
Gungunum
ca. 1868–1841
BC
Gained independence from Lipit-Eshtar of Isin
Abisare
ca. 1841–1830
BC
Sumuel
ca. 1830–1801
BC
Nur-Adad
ca. 1801–1785
BC
Contemporary of Sumu-la-El of Babylon
Sin-Iddinam
ca. 1785–1778
BC
Son of Nur-Adad
Sin-Eribam
ca. 1778–1776
BC
Sin-Iqisham
ca. 1776–1771
BC
Silli-Adad
ca. 1771–1770
BC
Warad-Sin
ca. 1770–1758
BC
Possible co-regency with Kudur-Mabuk his father
Rim-Sin I
ca. 1758–1699
BC
Contemporary of Irdanene of Uruk, Defeated by Hammurabi of Babylon,
Brother of Warad-Sin
Hammurabi of
Babylon
ca. 1699–1686
BC
Official Babylonian rule, code of Hammurabi
Samsu-iluna of
Babylon
ca. 1686–1678
BC
Official Babylonian rule
Rim-Sin II
ca. 1678–1674
BC
Killed in revolt against Babylon
Contemporary of Zambiya of Isin, Son of Sin-Eribam
Further information: First Dynasty of Babylon
Ruler
Reigned
Comments
Sumu-abum or Su-abu
ca. 1830–1817 BC Contemporary of Ilushuma of Assyria
Sumu-la-El
ca. 1817–1781 BC Contemporary of Erishum I of Assyria
Sabium or Sabum
ca. 1781–1767 BC Son of Sumu-la-El
Apil-Sin
ca. 1767–1749 BC Son of Sabium
Sin-muballit
ca. 1748–1729 BC Son of Apil-Sin
Hammurabi
ca. 1728–1686 BC
Samsu-iluna
ca. 1686–1648 BC Son of Hammurabi
Abi-eshuh or Abieshu
ca. 1648–1620 BC Son of Samsu-iluna
Ammi-ditana
ca. 1620–1583 BC Son of Abi-eshuh
Ammisaduqa orAmmisaduqa
ca. 1582–1562 BC Venus tablet of Ammisaduqa
Samsu-Ditana
ca. 1562–1531 BC Sack of Babylon
Contemporary of Zimri-Lim of Mari, Siwe-palarhuppak of Elamand Shamshi-Adad I
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammurabi
Hammurabi (Akkadian from Amorite ʻAmmurāpi, "the kinsman is a healer," from ʻAmmu,
"paternal kinsman," and Rāpi, "healer"; (died c. 1750 BC)) was the sixth king of Babylon (that is,
of the First Babylonian Dynasty) from 1792 BC to 1750 BC middle chronology (1728 BC – 1686
BC short chronology)[2] He became the first king of the Babylonian Empire following the
abdication of his father, Sin-Muballit, extending Babylon's control over Mesopotamia by winning a
series of wars against neighboring kingdoms.[3] Although his empire controlled all of Mesopotamia
at the time of his death, his successors were unable to maintain his empire.
Hammurabi is known for the set of laws called Hammurabi's Code, one of the first written codes
of law in recorded history. These laws were inscribed on stone tablets (stelae) standing over eight
feet tall (2.4 meters), of unknown provenance, found in Persia in 1901. Owing to his reputation in
modern times as an ancient law-giver, Hammurabi's portrait is in many government buildings
throughout the world.
Who were the Babylonian kings?
During the time of ancient Babylon, there were a lot of kings. The different kings were:
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Emisum
Samium
Zabaia
Gungunum
Abisare
Sumuel
Nur-Adad
Sin-Iddinam
Sin-Eribam
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Sin-Igisham
Silli-Addad
Warad-Sin
Rim-Sin I
Hammurabi
Samsun-iluna
Rim-Sin II
The most famous one is probably Hammurabi, the creator of Hammurabi’s Code. He died in
about 1750 BC. Hammurabi was king from about 1792 BC to 1750 BC, being the sixth king of
Babylon. His portrait is on many buildings around the world.