Hammurabi Social Structure

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.

Hammurabi was the sixth king in the First Dynasty of Babylon in the 18th century BCE. He became a first king of the empire of Babylonia when he conquest Sumerian and Akkadians. He was the creator of the Code of Hammurabi that known as one of the earliest surviving codes of law in recorded history.

The “Code of Hammurabi” is considered to be one of the most valuable finds of human existence. In fact its very existence created the basis for the justice system we have come to rely on today. The creation of “the Code” was a tremendous achievement for not only Babylonian society but for the entire Mesopotamian region as King Hammurabi was ruler over all of that area. Its conception can be considered to be the first culmination of the laws of different regions into a single, logical text. Hammurabi wanted to be an efficient ruler and realized that this could be achieved through the use of a common set of laws which applied to all territories and all citizens who fell under his rule. This paper will discuss the Hammurabi Code and the

The Law Code of Hammurabi is a native Babylonian text that served as the basic law code of society. The way of life was of the former Babylonians culture is totally different than what we are used to today. The text gives readers a vision of how ancient societies lived in these times. This law code gave society a diverse arrangement for citizens to follow. The social structure isn’t about wealth, they are judged by different standards (such as trial by ordeal). The husband is the dominant role of the house. The family structure is a patriarchal household and the power of the father is absolute. The Law Code of Hammurabi gives readers a clear thought of how unfair the earlier civilization of Babylonians existed through class structures, gender relations, and family structures.

My subject will be The Hammurabi Code, and its many similarities to the laws of today. The Code of Hammurabi was one of the earliest written legal codes, which was created by the Babylon King, Hammurabi, who ruled from 1792 to 1750 B.C. Hammurabi expanded the city-state of Babylon along the Euphrates River to unite all of southern Mesopotamia. What he was most known for though, were his set of laws known as “Hammurabi’s Code,” which was a collection of 282 rules that established standards for commercial interactions, and set fines and punishments to set the requirements of justice. These laws were Carved onto a 7 foot tall Stone Stele (pillar), and were displayed in a public place. The pillar, which is made of black diorite, now exists in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France (LiveScience, Jarus). What makes these laws so significant, is how organized and equal they were, and how similar they were to today’s laws. However, in many cases, these laws were more inhumane than the ones we follow in today’s society, with less room for interpretation than our criminal system of today.

How would you like to be a woman in Mesopotamia when Hammurabi ruled? Back then it was really unfair for women. Hammurabi’s Code was unfair and too harsh for women. The laws that are in the documents are a too harsh, mostly for women. Two of the laws in document E are way too easy for men( Laws 209, 213 ). In the article, “Hammurabi’s Code: Was It Just?” the text states, “Nearly 4,000 years ago, a man named Hammurabi became king of a city-state called Babylon.” Hammurabi ruled for forty-two years. The article says, “ For the first 30 of these years, Hammurabi’s control was limited mostly to Babylon.” Hammurabi soon took power in 1792 BCE. He would eventually rule over an estimated population of one million. Most of Hammurabi’s laws were way too harsh, mainly for women. I am glad things are not the same for women today!

There are many governmental documents in the world, one of them is Hammurabi’s Code. Hammurabi's Code was a series of codes written on a stele by King Hammurabi of Babylonia. The laws were said to be influenced by the gods and everyone had to follow them. But many might ask, was Hammurabi’s Code fair? Hammurabi’s Code was not fair. This is because occupation laws were unjust, laws were extremely different between classes, and laws were different between genders.

One reason that Hammurabi’s code was just is because of the professional standards laws. Document B says that “if a builder has built a house for a man and it has fallen, then he shall pay make that house firm at his own expense.” This means that a builder must replace any house he builds if that house falls or is destroyed. This shows that Hammurabi’s Code was just because Hammurabi cared about people taking responsibility for their work and being accountable for their mistakes. In addition to this, Hammurabi’s Code also says that “if a gardener does not work in a garden and the garden falls, the gardener shall pay to the neighboring gardens” (Document B). This means that a gardener must pay for any garden that he does not maintain.

It has been said that history is bound to repeat itself, some might say it is because the human mind thinks alike in more ways than one. This is proven in many ways including the properties and function processes of a variety of communities. Take a look at today’s society, people are ranked on social class based upon their source of income and how they are presented. They are continuously told the rule book for life by those who hold high authority and we feed off of money. We are willing to throw away our principles we vowed to stand by to earn another dime to our salary. 4,000 years ago these same problems arose in some of the earliest civilizations known to man. In Mesopotamia civilians had to deal

Do you think Hammurabi’s Code was just? Hammurabi was a man who began his rule over Babylonia in 1792 BCE, and ruled over a likely population of 1,000,000 people. Hammurabi ruled over much of Mesopotamia, and sought to make things justified in his cities. Hammurabi constructed his code full of 282 laws on his 38th year of ruling over Babylonia. Hammurabi’s code was later found carved into a stele, and that’s how we know all about the code today. I myself believe Hammurabi’s Code was unjustified, and you will find my reasons in the following Paragraphs, those paragraphs being specifically of Hammurabi’s Family Law, Property Law, and Personal Injury Law. This will be my report on why I know Hammurabi’s Code is unjust.

The story of Hammurabi begins around 1810 B.C. when he was born in Babylon (Modern day Iraq). Hammurabi’s father Sin muballit was the fifth king of the Babylon dynasty. He was a great king who was well respected throughout Mesopotamia but he couldn’t compete with Larsa. Hammurabi’s father led an attack on the city of Larsa but was defeated by Rim Sin.

Hammurabi was Prince of Babylon from 1792 to 1750. He wrote the code to set rules in his society. Most of the rules deal with deals between people or contracts between people. Dealt with how services will be paid; how debts will be paid. Liability was also key in Hammurabi’s code an example would be if property was left in care of another and that property would become damage what the consequences would be. Hammurabi set out to basically bring righteousness to his land by bringing ‘evil-doers’ to justice. This code is where we get the saying, ‘eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth’. This code is basically the earliest form of societal rules or laws. This set what society should be about, to be under rules to be able to be in society.

Four thousand years ago, in the state of Babylonia, ruled a king named Hammurabi, Hammurabi made a set of two hundred eighty two laws name Hammurabi’s code, to protect the weak, but were they really just? Through my prospective these laws were not fair because they did not try to help the family solve its problems, instead it acted based on what happened, Hammurabi’s code destroyed/ruined personal property, and it encouraged personal injury.

Hammurabi lived 40 centuries ago, he ruled for 42 years. When Hammurabi ruled he base his life on laws he made. He ruled over most of Babylonia. The Evidence that I am going to use to show that Hammurabi codes were Just. The stone Stele (stee-lee),Epilogue of the code, and Family law.

My source was from History.com. It is called Code of Hammurabi, and was written by the History.com staff. It was published in 2009, by the A+E Networks. I believe that it is a credible source because it has many topics that duplicate historical events that are important to our academics. Many history teachers use it for teaching their class. It is a go-to website for social studies classes all around the world.