Preview

Hammurabis Code Compared to Us Today

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
840 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Hammurabis Code Compared to Us Today
Although our society today may want to be under a stricter rule of conduct, the laws we are under today are shaped to fit us in the best way. A Babylonian document, Hammurabi’s Code of Laws, consists of a set of laws enforced to discipline people. The laws are most based on social classes in which people were in. For example in The Code, one of the law states, “If he be a freeman, he (the physician) shall receive five shekels.” Basically meaning if he be a slave, or lower class man, he will not be paid if done a physician’s job. But he was a known physician and isn’t a freeman, he’d be paid five shekels. So are we better off with our present set of laws? Or is it in the best interest for our society to follow Hammurabi’s Code?
We are better off with our set of laws we have today. For the fact that our laws today isn’t based on social classes nor’ genders. Our set of laws today gives discipline to all those that choose to not obey to them. Another law in Hammurabi’s Code is “If a woman bring about the death of her husband for the sake of another man, they shall impale her.” And it’s a question what would happen if a man was in this situation. Would he be put to death? Because in this law is states “…If a mans wife becomes afflicted with disease, and if he wants to take another wife, he may…but she shall remain in the house which he has built and he shall maintain her as long as she lives” This is saying if a mans wife is sick he may look for another, but must take care of her for the rest of her life. Yet the man isn’t put to death for basically leaving his original wife for another. She didn’t perish, but being sick enough, for someone to leave you, is just like being murdered on the inside.
1.2 million violent crimes were committed in the US in 2010 according to the FBI national statistics. That’s a high number for crimes committed, but the punishment for those violators is appropriate for their situations. If a man took an eye out of another man his eye

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Hammurabi’s code was unjust because of it’s family laws. For example, law 168(doc c) gives the judge control over a man’s property. The man should be allowed to remove his son from his will because it’s his property. Maybe the son is lazy and never does anything. The judge should not decide what happens to property that isn’t his. Also, in law 195(doc c) the son is getting his hands cut off for striking his father.…

    • 348 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hammurabi Code Dbq

    • 481 Words
    • 2 Pages

    To begin with, Hammurabi’s Code threatened the family. For example, in law 129, it said if a married woman is caught with another man, they will both get tied up and cast to water. Also, in law 195, it said that if a son has struck his father, his hands shall be cut off. Based on what I read, in law 129, you cannot be with another man or they will kill both of you. Law 129 shows, if you hit your father they will cut your hands off and now the family is going to get separated. As you can see, these laws are supposed to protect you, but either way you get hurt.…

    • 481 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Hammurabi Dbq

    • 327 Words
    • 2 Pages

    To begin with, Hammurabi’s code was just because it helped the family be together. For instance, in Law 129 it says if a married lady is caught in adultery, they shall both be bind and cast into water. Also, in Law 195 it says that if a son has struck his father, his hands shall be cut off. Based on what I read, Law 129 helped the lady and the man be together. On Law 125 it shows that it helped children be obedient. As you can see, these Laws helped the family be together by being obedient.…

    • 327 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hammurabi Code Dbq Essay

    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Hammurabi’s Code was a code of laws produced in Mesopotamia under Hammurabi’s rule circa 1754 BCE. During this time period there was a lot of violence and slave labor. By implementing these laws he hoped to achieve peace and establish order in his kingdom. Hammurabi’s Code established an unfair law code because it further encouraged inequality among social classes, authorized unwarranted punishments for accused criminals, and it supported patriarchal laws favoring men over women.…

    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    People should not break laws any ways, but most people did not break laws in 1792 because, if you did you could have your eyes gouged out, you could have your hands chopped off and you could even be killed. Hammurabi was a good king to the people of babylon in 1792 BCE. He created laws to keep people from doing bad things and to keep people from going crazy, he also wanted to protect family’s, orphans and the poor. The question is “Was Hammurabis code Just” most people wonder what does just mean, just means fair. I believe that Hammurabi’s code is fair and I will explain in the next paragraph.…

    • 207 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hammurabi Dbq

    • 568 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The people of Hammurabi essentially believed that whatever Hammurabi instilled was by way of the divinity. To unify the people in a secular religious believe and moral code, Hammurabi needed to install a comprehensive set of laws known has the Code of Hammurabi. The code consisted of 282 laws in which Hammurabi expressed were a devotion to god and his responsibilities as a king. The codes provided a structure to life and the consequences that would follow if such codes were not abided by. The Code of Hammurabi elicited some equalities while insinuating some strong, blatant, inequalities amongst the different classes of people from slaves to the aristocratic class. For example code number 6 in the Code of Hammurabi states, “If a man steals valuables belonging to the god or to the palace, that man shall be killed, and also the one who received stolen goods from him shall be kill.” It seems that Hammurabi was not a forgiving type of leader in that he had laws that were to be followed and the consequence of forfeiting those laws would typically result in…

    • 568 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hammurabi’s code was a set of laws developed in Sargon to keep order within the city. In the time period men were powerful and treated like superiors over women. Hammurabi’s code favored men, but gave rights to women which differed from many societies in this time. Women were treated with respect and did not have to fight for rights. Women were acknowledged as an important attributes to the city but men were still favored in the law. This had a lot to do with Ben Zhao, and the instruction manual she created for women. She created a way for women to act and a way for women to have respect, while also respecting their fathers, brothers, and the men in which they were in a relationship.…

    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Babylonian law, husbands were not allowed to cheat on their wives and blame it upon them, and decree the incident their fault.…

    • 722 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Unit I Dbq

    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Hammurabi's code of law in document one of the many methods by which rulers established their power. Like many rulers, Hammaurabi created a code of law, that the people in his empire had to adhere to. Creating a code of law was not meant to be cruel but to inform people living within the empire that their were rules and regulations that they had to follow. “If any one steal the property of a temple or of the court, he shall be put to death,and also the one who receives the stolen thing from him shall be put to death.” Law number six makes it evident that religion played a part in society and people had to respect that as well.…

    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hammurabi's Code

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages

    To continue, Hammurabi’s Code was unfair to society. This is shown in law twenty-three. For instance, law twenty-three exclaims, “If the robber is not caught, then shall he who was robbed claim under oath the amount of his loss; then shall the community, and . . . on whose ground and territory and in whose domain it was compensate him for the goods stolen.” (King). This is unfair to society because they didn’t commit the crime. Just because the robber was not caught, doesn’t mean other innocent people should pay for the lost property/items.…

    • 542 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hammurabi Code Analysis

    • 642 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Hammurabi’s Code illustrates the patriarchal society and the class system that was present in the Old Babylonian Empire. As we discussed during class, Hammurabi’s code outlines varying punishments depending on social standing. For example, one of the laws states that “if a man knocks out the teeth of his equal, then his teeth shall be knocked out,” however, “if a man knocks out the teeth of a [commoner], he shall pay one third of a mina.” Hammurabi’s code offered women protection from offenses such as rape, however, it ensured that the control still resided in the hands of men, and it enforced the patriarchal lifestyle that was very much a part of life in ancient Mesopotamia. One of the laws states that, “If a man's wife be surprised [having intercourse] with another man, both shall be tied and thrown into the water,” but…

    • 642 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Hunter Gatherer

    • 273 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Hammurabi’s Code of Laws is often described as an important new “technology” of rule because it established clear expectations of rights, obligations, and possible penalties for all Mesopotamians, thereby making delegation of ruling power easier while also providing people with the stability if knowing what to expected of them. The codes also give modern-day people a clear picture of Mesopotamian values as well as their social and gender differences. Summarize the limitations and rights that Mesopotamian women have.…

    • 273 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Moreover, the family law can also be found unjust. There are many laws in this section that can be found awful to some people. That is to say, a man should tie up his wife and drown her if she is caught with another man. Second in Hammurabi’s view, “If a son has struck his father, his hands should be cut off.” These rules are proven to be unfair because because if a married lady is…

    • 507 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Code Of Hammurabi

    • 904 Words
    • 4 Pages

    He was called to bring about the rule of righteousness. His code was established to destroy the evil in the land. Hammurabi received this authority from the Anu the Sublime, King of Anunanki, and Bel, the lord of Heaven and earth. This implies that all rulers are divinely anointed. As one expands their control over larger areas, this could cause problems because not everyone has the same beliefs and gods. This means, in turn, that the people may not see the rulers anointment as credible. This may be one reason why Hammurabi list all of the cites and gods he has benefitted. He received his calling and authority from his gods. To prove that his authority is true, he names all of the other…

    • 904 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many people may say that the death penalty is a horrible way of justice but some may disagree. In my paper I will compare and contrast the 18th century B.C. code of Hammurabi and its liberal use of using the death penalty in the United States today. Throughout my essay I will address the following questions, Are there any instances in which the death penalty is considered justice? Why is killing in some cases murder? Might there be a historical connection between the code and United state laws?…

    • 834 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays

Related Topics