Hammurabi's Code
During the ancient times, civilizations developed laws to do the following: regulate, control, and organize life. Within these rules and regulations showed many aspects of the civilization’s culture. A prime example of this notion was Hammurabi’s Code—which was a set of laws to the ancient Babylonians written by the king himself. These set of laws indicated the day to day life of Babylonian culture. As a cultural anthropologist one studies origins, cultural development, and customs of human beings. Hammurabi’s Code is a useful source for an anthropologist studying Babylonian culture because it provides insight on economy, society, and government followed by the Babylonians.
Hammurabi’s Code indicates economy because of the jobs, system of economic exchange, and agriculture mentioned. The first section of Hammurabi’s Code was explaining the price if a veterinary surgeon treated an animal with a severe injury. A veterinary surgeon is a doctor who specializes in farm animals, and according to this law—the ancient Babylonians had this occupation. Not only was the veterinary surgeon mentioned in Hammurabi’s Code, but several other jobs were as well. In section two, it mentions the consequences of a builder if the house he had built fell and caused the death of the owner. In section five, it mentions a boatman transporting goods such as corn and wool. In section 17, it indicates the flooded fields that carried away the farmer’s crops. All the sections mentioned have one thing in common: they all have occupations incorporated in it.
Not only did the occupations of a veterinary surgeon, boatman, and farmer represent economy in Hammurabi’s Code, but so did the medium of exchange. In sections one, 25, and 27 they all mention the unit “shekel” and the medium of exchange “silver.” Section one talks about the payment of a surgeon, section 25 has a plebian paying for his penalty of invading another’s privacy, and section 27 mentions a man paying up for striking a woman with
Hammurabi’s Code indicates economy because of the jobs, system of economic exchange, and agriculture mentioned. The first section of Hammurabi’s Code was explaining the price if a veterinary surgeon treated an animal with a severe injury. A veterinary surgeon is a doctor who specializes in farm animals, and according to this law—the ancient Babylonians had this occupation. Not only was the veterinary surgeon mentioned in Hammurabi’s Code, but several other jobs were as well. In section two, it mentions the consequences of a builder if the house he had built fell and caused the death of the owner. In section five, it mentions a boatman transporting goods such as corn and wool. In section 17, it indicates the flooded fields that carried away the farmer’s crops. All the sections mentioned have one thing in common: they all have occupations incorporated in it.
Not only did the occupations of a veterinary surgeon, boatman, and farmer represent economy in Hammurabi’s Code, but so did the medium of exchange. In sections one, 25, and 27 they all mention the unit “shekel” and the medium of exchange “silver.” Section one talks about the payment of a surgeon, section 25 has a plebian paying for his penalty of invading another’s privacy, and section 27 mentions a man paying up for striking a woman with