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Mesopotamia laws of hammurabi
Mesopotamia laws of hammurabi
Mesopotamia laws of hammurabi
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Have you ever thought about laws created more than 3,500 years ago by a man known as Hammurabi? Hammurabi was a king of a kingdom known as Babylonia. He ruled nearly 4000 years ago, and ruled 42 years. During his time, Hammurabi carved 282 laws on a stele, which became Hammurabi’s Code. Now we are faced with a question: Was Hammurabi’s Code fair to everyone?
Hammurabi’s Code DBQ King Hammurabi’s rule began in the city of Babylon. He later then extended his control by taking over Larsa and Mari a large part of Mesopotamia. After expanding his land, Shamash, the god of justice presented him with a code of 232 laws (Doc A). These laws were then influenced throughout the community and were considered a part of the communities culture. I disagree with Hammurabi’s code because most laws were to cruel and targeted certain people.
Hammurabi’s Code of Justice Have you ever heard the expression, treat others how you want to be treated? Well that's what Hammurabi’s code is all about. Babylonia was ruled by king Hammurabi for 42 years in 1754 BCE. In those years Hammurabi made a set of 282 laws called Hammurabi’s code to create justice and the laws were placed on a steele. Hammurabi's code was just because his purpose was to protect the weak, he made laws about property to protect your house and laws to punish people if they injure you.
I believe that Hammurabi’s code was just. I have all of the laws and documents that support my claim as to why I think the code was just. I think that Hammurabi’s code was just because obviously these things had to have happened at least once or they wouldn’t have laws about it. So society needs to learn even if it means having that harsh of a punishment. Having that harsh of a punishment actually helps because society sees that if they do that specific crime, they will get a really bad punishment so that prevents it from happening.
Ancient civilizations began in areas that had arable land and other features such as rivers. Civilizations succeeded in these environments because they could settle down and not live a nomadic lifestyle. Because the land was arable, agriculture prospered and people relied on the geography to grant them the elements needed for survival. In China and Egypt, geography greatly influenced and affected the lives of the people living there because of the prosperous rivers and large natural barriers.
People in most of Mesopotamia didn’t help create the laws, Hammurabi and Shamash did. Punishments for the people were unfair and ended many lives or ruined lives because they made one mistake. Everyone didn’t receive the same punishments as other people. Although Hammurabi’s Code did protect the weak, there were more problems with the laws than there were good. However, government nowadays, learned from Hammurabi’s mistakes.
The Judgments of Hammurabi are a set of laws that were written by a god. The laws were put in place “to promote the welfare of the people, to cause justice to prevail in the land, and so the strong might not oppress the weak.” The Tale of The Eloquent Peasant, depicts how a peasant has been robbed of his goods and how he eloquently appeals to the king for justice to be served. Both articles discuss; the division of a society’s social class, how gods/kings interpret justice and family relationships within the law. The Judgments of Hammurabi laid out the rules for Mesopotamian citizens.
Like other societies the Akkadian Empire adopted Sumerian ideas and spread them through all of Mesopotamia. After Sargon’s death, the Akkadian Empire went downhill, leaving the Amorites to take control and establish their own empire (Babylonian Empire). (Like the Akkadian Empire, the Babylonian Empire adapted Sumerian ideas) Hammurapi becomes ruler (1792 to 1750 B.C.) and establishes the well-known law code (Hammurapi’s Code). There is little known during his rule, but he is famous for his code of laws.
To add to that, Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt both had rivers near their civilizations that they used to collect water. Mesopotamia was located near the Tigris River as well as the Euphrates river. While Ancient Egypt was located by the nile river. Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia also shared many differences. For instance, the civilizations had diverse social hierarchies.
Most of Hammurabi’s laws are not just to the people or society of Babylon. Now, picture in your mind, living in Babylon with Hammurabi as your ruler. Wasn’t as good as you
The Egyptian Middle Kingdom and Babylonia had many similarities related in geography. Despite this they also had numerous distinct differences. Fundamental similarities manifested as care for the people by the rulers which had recently developed in both societies. As the rulers were no longer concerned with only themselves, but the citizens as well. Both societies had military protection although Babylon organized and conquered the Fertile Crescent and later Egypt.
Both civilizations had the same social structure and divided people by wealth, power and gender. Egypt and Mesopotamia were patriarchal; men were the dominant gender, giving them more power in the political system. In both civilizations, religion played a big role, those with powers were believed to be connected to the gods and were chosen by the gods to lead. Those with wealth had power and with it the rulers of these civilizations used religion as a tool to control the people and created laws that following the gods might grant you eternal life in the afterlife. Laws mainly focused on obeying the King or Pharaoh, to never anger the gods, to pay tribute and appease them, performing negative confession appeased the gods.
When looking at the Mesopotamian Society, one can use many sources, yet a great representative of the society are the Laws of Hammurabi, which dictate the lifestyle of the people of the Mesopotamian Empire. In this society, a woman is regarded at the property of the man. Whether the woman is another man’s wife, or daughter. The woman’s husband’s occupation also dictated her lifestyle. A free man’s wife is treated differently from a civil servant’s wife.
The Code of Hammurabi were laws in ancient Mesopotamia, established by King Hammurabi during his reign between 1792-1750 B.C. The Mesopotamians believed the idea of divine kingship, in which kings were chosen by the gods to rule over the nation. Therefore, kings were high and superior in their eyes. Mesopotamians obeyed their rulers and their laws, including the Code of Hammurabi. These laws were considered divine order. The Code of Hammurabi showed the daily life of ancient
With all of Hammurabi’s advancements did he really impact the world today? The Babylonian king Hammurabi, who expanded the city-state of Babylon across the Euphrates River, proclaimed one of the earliest and most complete ancient legal codes B.C. Hammurabi was the sixth king of the First Babylonian Dynasty, reigning from 1792 BC to 1750 BC. His father, Sin-Muballit, who abdicated due to failing health, preceded Hammurabi.