Hammurabi's Code, Was it Just?
7th Period
9-9-13
Hammurabi’s Code
Was it Just? Mesopotamia, “the Land between Rivers,” was one of the greatest and the oldest ancient civilizations of the world. This civilization flourished around 3000 B.C.E. on the piece of fertile land, now known as Iraq, between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. Before 1792 B.C.E the city-states of ancient Mesopotamia were not united and constantly clashed in turmoil and warfare. In 1792 B.C.E King Hammurabi conquered and merged the neighboring city-states of ancient Mesopotamia, creating a Babylonian empire and becoming the sixth king of its capitol city, Babylon. During his reign, Hammurabi established law and order and funded irrigation, defense, and religious projects. He personally took care of and governed the administration. In fact, in 1784 B.C.E he wrote two hundred eighty-two laws governing family, criminal punishment, civil law, ethics, business, prices, trade, and every other aspect of ancient life—this set of laws became known as “The Code of Hammurabi.” Carved upon a black stele (Doc A.) eight feet high where everyone could read them, based off these two hundred eighty two laws, I believe Hammurabi’s Code was not just based off three simple aspects, justice for the accused, justice for the victims, and justice for the people of society. Hammurabi’s Code was not just for the accused, according to Law 195, (Doc C.) “If a son shall strike his father, his hands shall be cut off.” What if that son had struck his father in an act of self-defense? The father then effortlessly reports his son’s actions and can even disinherit him from the family according to Law 168 (Doc C.) of Hammurabi’s Code, all because the son was trying to defend himself. In Law 218 (Doc. E) “If a surgeon has operated with a bronze lancet on a free man with serious injury, and has caused his death, his hands shall be cut off.” In other words, if a man dies during surgery, the doctor loses his hands. What if the man was minutes away from
9-9-13
Hammurabi’s Code
Was it Just? Mesopotamia, “the Land between Rivers,” was one of the greatest and the oldest ancient civilizations of the world. This civilization flourished around 3000 B.C.E. on the piece of fertile land, now known as Iraq, between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. Before 1792 B.C.E the city-states of ancient Mesopotamia were not united and constantly clashed in turmoil and warfare. In 1792 B.C.E King Hammurabi conquered and merged the neighboring city-states of ancient Mesopotamia, creating a Babylonian empire and becoming the sixth king of its capitol city, Babylon. During his reign, Hammurabi established law and order and funded irrigation, defense, and religious projects. He personally took care of and governed the administration. In fact, in 1784 B.C.E he wrote two hundred eighty-two laws governing family, criminal punishment, civil law, ethics, business, prices, trade, and every other aspect of ancient life—this set of laws became known as “The Code of Hammurabi.” Carved upon a black stele (Doc A.) eight feet high where everyone could read them, based off these two hundred eighty two laws, I believe Hammurabi’s Code was not just based off three simple aspects, justice for the accused, justice for the victims, and justice for the people of society. Hammurabi’s Code was not just for the accused, according to Law 195, (Doc C.) “If a son shall strike his father, his hands shall be cut off.” What if that son had struck his father in an act of self-defense? The father then effortlessly reports his son’s actions and can even disinherit him from the family according to Law 168 (Doc C.) of Hammurabi’s Code, all because the son was trying to defend himself. In Law 218 (Doc. E) “If a surgeon has operated with a bronze lancet on a free man with serious injury, and has caused his death, his hands shall be cut off.” In other words, if a man dies during surgery, the doctor loses his hands. What if the man was minutes away from