Ap World History Dbq Hammurabi

Hammurabi Hammurabi lived nearly 4,000 years ago and was ruler of a kingdom called Babylonia for 42 years. When he was in power, he ruled over approximately 1,000,000 people. When Hammurabi took power in 1792 B.C.E. he was king of most of Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. In his 38th year of power, Hammurabi was instructed by the “god” of justice, Shamash, to have a Code of Law carved on a stone stele, (a large pillar-like stone). Hammurabi had 282 laws (BGE), but the real question is, were they just? No, these laws were not just, because of the family, property, and personal injury laws. Examples of injustice can first be found in the area of family laws. In Law 195, it states that “If a son has struck his father, his hands shall be cut off.” (Doc C) This is unfair because if a son gets mad and hits his father, should he really have his hands cut off? You might be thinking, if he really meant to hit his dad, it would be a just punishment because he can’t hit anyone again, but if they cut off his hands, he would be a burden to society, unable to help out, and needing extensive care; is that fair to society? Second, in Law 129 the punishment for adultery is being bound and thrown into the water (Doc C). Does the punishment fit the crime? Then you
In Law 21 it says, “if a man has broken through the wall to rob a house, they shall put him to death and pierce him, or hang him in the hole in the wall that he has made.” (Doc D) Who wants a dead guy hanging in their wall!? Also, this is unfair because isn’t there such a thing as second chances? Should someone really be killed because he was so poor he had to resort to robbery? Second, in Law 23 it states: If the robber isn’t caught, the mayor and the city shall pay for him to replace his things. (Doc D) Why should the mayor and the city pay for him to get his things back? He can save up to buy his own things - the mayor shouldn’t have