Download Hammurabi`s Code.

Ancient
Mesopotamia:
The First Great Civilization
THEME THREE: GOVERNMENT & HAMMURABI’S LAWS
Guiding Question: What can
Hammurabi’s laws teach us about
Mesopotamian values and
customs?
 With
the development of writing,
Mesopotamians began to write down laws
 The most famous law- maker was the King
Hammurabi of Babylon from 1792-1750
B.C.E
Hammurabi’s Code

The 282 laws were written
on a large clay tablet in
cuneiform (the written
language in
Mesopotamia)

The tablet have survived
almost entirely intact and
is displayed in the Louvre
museum in Paris, France.
Hammurabi’s Code

The King created Hammurabi’s
code which had 282 laws

The code was an important step
towards creating a society where
everyone’s rights were recognized

The code brought an era of
peace and prosperity to the citystates of Mesopotamia that were
ruled by King Hammurabi

He claimed that the gods had
told him to write down laws to
make sure “the strong may not
oppress the weak”
Hammurabi’s Code

The 282 laws covered all
aspects of life:
 Family
 Labour
 Buying
& selling land
 Possessions

& trade
Each law had a set
punishment
Hammurabi’s Court Activity
Guiding Question:
What can Hammurabi’s laws teach
us about Mesopotamian values and
customs?

After exploring some of Hammurabi’s code, what values or customs
are noticeable in Mesopotamian culture?
SOME AREAS OF FOCUS:

Which people are valued/respected? Not valued/ respected?

What possessions are important to them?

Which crimes are considered very serious? Which crimes are
considered not serious?
Exit Ticket

Please complete your exit ticket before leaving today 
What do you think?

Using the examples of Hammurabi’s laws that are provided, talk with
the people at your table and decide which category you think they
should go in and WHY (you must be able to defend your stance):
This law should be changed:
This law should stay the same: