Hammurabi Code Dbq

Hammurabi’s code could have been just in many different ways depending on the situation, but Hammurabi’s code also killed many innocent people! When Hammurabi made the laws, they were placed in the middle of the town, so the people knew about the laws and the consequences if they broke the laws. In Hammurabi’s words, he said: “ Hammurabi, the protecting king am I. … That the strong might not injure the weak, in order to protect the widows and orphans.” (Doc. B). He promised to protect the weak and Hammurabi did not keep his promise. Although he meant well, Some of the laws were unjust and unnecessary. Here is why Hammurabi’s code is unjust to the property laws and the personal injury law.

During the reign of Hammurabi of Babylon (1795-1750 B.C.E), king Hammurabi enacted the code. This code consisted of 282 that set standards of conduct and harsh justice for his empire in ancient Mesopotamia. Hammurabi’s laws also provided evidence about the status and rights of women in Babylonian society. These laws demonstrated scaled punishments, the idea of “an eye for an eye” or “a tooth for a tooth” (lex talionis, the law of retaliation), depending on the social status of that person.

Hammurabi’s code included some gruesome punishments, some that might be believed as unruly, but is still just. Hammurabi’s code was just in many ways pertaining to their time. These laws are not the oldest set, but they were possibly the most strict from the ancient world. The punishments for breaking some laws are different for the multiple classes on the social structure and genders. Also, during his time, Hammurabi was known more as a builder and conqueror than a law-giver. All in all, the laws abiding in Hammurabi’s code are just because of its personal injury and family laws.

A life for a life. King Hammurabi became the ruler of Babylon in 1792. Hammurabi had created 292 laws. He had a total of 3,500 lines of writing, covering both sides of the steele. I am going to be discussing, Is hammurabi's code just? Before we answer the question I will tell you what “just” means. Just simply means “fair”. I believe that hammurabi’s code was just. In this essay, I will be discussing hammurabi’s code being just. I will be giving reasons for hammurabi’s code being just.

How would people feel if they had to follow the laws of Hammurabi’s code? Hammurabi was the king of Babylonia. Hammurabi started being king around 3500 BCE, and Hammurabi made 282 laws. Hammurabi’s Code was unjust based on the evidence from the codes Personal law, Property law, and Family law. Was Hammurabi’s code just?

In 1750 B.C. a new king of babylonia arose by the name of Hammurabi. He continued his reign up until 1792 B.C. but most importantly his reign did not go unforgotten. During his reign he was in charge of giving punishments to the wrongdoings of his citizens. As he conquered other cities and his empire grew he saw the need to unify groups he controlled, he was concerned about keeping order in his kingdom. In order to achieve this goal, he needed one universal set of laws for all the people he conquered thus he created the Hammurabi code.

There are about three hundred codes of laws and one of the principles of justice that the people had to follow was," an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. "It is "the most comprehensive set of civil, criminal, and family laws from the ancient times" (Levin, 16). This quote tells us that Hammurabi is forward and understanding how he values his ideas to make peace for the people. Hammurabi's code of laws is the most significant document from ancient Babylonian that archaeologists have found. According to Ascaso et al., "the Hammurabi Code was the earliest example of a Constitution" (760).

In his code, he stated that he created the code to make sure the strong might not injure the weak, and to protect widows and orphans. I think Hammurabi’s Code was unjust because in the Epilogue of his code, he stated that any future ruler “destroys the law which he has given,... may the great gods of heaven and earth...earth... inflict a curse...upon

The city states were fighting with each other. So Hammurabi made 282 laws written on steels. The question is whether the laws were fair or unfair. There are three areas of laws where Hammurabi’s code is unjust.

Hammurabi’s code was made by a babylonian king named Hammurabi who wanted just for all in my opinion his law were just because they protected the weak, the injured, families and properties. For example in document C law 148 if a man has married a wife and she gets sick if he wants to married another woman he can but not divorce with the other one that is sick instead she has to stay with them for as she lives. Also if a father wants to disinherit his son he can't unless the son has committed any crimes. As you can see hammurabi’s code protected the families.

My first reason that shows that Hammurabi’s code was not just is that they were way too harsh. Law number 195, for example, states,” If a son has struck his father, his hands shall be cut

Hammurabi, the ruler of Mesopotamia, invented 282 laws approximately 4,000 years ago to obtain peace. In my opinion, Hammurabi’s Code was not just; it affected many families in a negative way, there were many other ways to resolve the problems presented, and most of the victims were treated unfairly. Foremost, Hammurabi’s Code separated families. For example, in Document C Law 129 when the son strikes his father there are more other responsible ways to punish the son other than cutting off his hands.

Hammurabi’s code was just to both the accused and the victim, and it was designed to keep the society at the time safe and secure. He was ruling with the kingdom's best interests in mind. His intentions were good, and he was very thorough when creating laws. The gods commanded Hammurabi to base his rulings on these laws, and he was merely following their instructions.

The Hammurabi’s Codes can also be called as Code of Hammurabi. The Code of Hammurabi was consisted of 3,500 lines which created 282 laws that were given to the citizens of Babylon that were ruled under Hammurabi. When Code of Hammurabi was created, its purpose was to provide a justice system to the citizens. On the Hammurabi’s Code, there are different varieties of laws ranging from “family law to professional contracts and administrative law… outlining different standards of justice for the three classes of Babylonian society—the propertied class, freedmen, and slaves” (Hammurabi).On top of that, “Hammurabi’s codes provides some of the earliest examples of the doctrine of “An eye for an eye” (Hammurabi). The meaning of the phrase “An eye for an eye” was to point out to the citizens of Babylon that if you commit a crime, you get pay for what you crime you committed on the victim.

Hammurabi used his code to protect his people and to keep everything in order. I believe these laws are fair because the laws make sense and each punishment is accurate. Let’s talk about some of the family laws. Law 129, “If a married lady is caught in adultery with another man, they shall bind them and cast them into the water”. Law 195, “If a son has struck his father, his hands shall be cut off”. These punishments may seem a little harsh but are fair. The victim shouldn’t have broke the code when they knew it wasn’t allowed. Adultery is a sin, the lady shouldn’t have committed adultery knowing that it was against the code and would ruin her family. The son in law 195 shouldn’t have disrespected his father. Chopping his hands off is a little cruel but is still fair. The son shouldn’t have struck at his father when it was against the rules. When breaking the rules a punishment must take place.