Essay on The Code of Hammurabi - 951 Words

The â€Å"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 â€Å"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†¦show more content†¦Hammurabi improved on the measures implemented by Sargon through his idea of â€Å"centralization†. Instead of controlling trade routes and resources like Sargon, Hammurabi institutionalized re gular taxation for all the territories. Hammurabi also ruled from within Babylon while extending his authority to other territories through the use of deputies placed in each territory. (Bentley and Zeigler, p. 29) In regards to the Hammurabi Code of Law, Hammurabi claimed that the gods had picked him to â€Å"promote the welfare of the people †¦to cause justice to prevail in the land, to destroy the wicked and evil, so that the strong might not oppress the weak†¦Ã¢â‚¬  His intention was to hold those under his rule accountable for their actions and inspire â€Å"appropriate behaviors†. In fact, according to literature, the code functioned on the principle of â€Å"lex talionis† which basically translates as the â€Å"law of retaliation†. The idea was that the punishment would fit the crime, at least in theory. Similar to today’s laws, individual judges were allowed discretion and did not always follow the code specifically. Never the less, the code was always utilized as a reference for solution. (Bentley and Zeigler, p. 30) The code prescribed punishment for various crimes to include lying, stealing, kidnapping, murder, fraud and bribery with the highest punishment of death being recommended for many actions considered to be criminal. Such crimes includedShow MoreRelatedThe Code Of Hammurabi Code896 Words   |  4 Pagesof 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. The code of HammurabiRead MoreHammurabi Code4163 Words   |  17 PagesTable of Contents: I. Introduction: 1.1 Who is Hammurabi?†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦2 3 1.2 Where did he live? †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.3 4 1.3 The beginning of the Code†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦.4 5 II. Cultural Analysis: 2.1 Social Layers†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 6 7 2.2 Existed Laws .............................†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...7 2.3 Different Cultures†¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..8 III. Explanation of the Laws: 3.1 Examples of Laws†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦9Read MoreComparison Between The Code Of Hammurabi And Hammurabi1045 Words   |  5 Pagesquestion arises. Those two laws are The Code of Hammurabi and the Bibles laws. Hammurabi’s legal code (The Code of Hammurabi) was established between 1894 and 1595 B.C. (Barratt et al., 2017). The Code of Hammurabi was a set of 282 laws dealing with a wide variety of interactions, and an epilogue filled with curses applying to anyone in the future who may change, efface, or subvent Hammurabi’s divinely ordained legislation (Cook 3). The Code of Hammurabi may have shown fairness to a degree, butRead MoreEssay on The Code of Hammurabi1144 Words   |  5 PagesThe Code of Hammurabi An eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. That is what the Code of Hammurabi is trying to get across. After reading the Code, all I could think about was What if that is what the laws were like now in the United States? I dont think that the people would act in the manner that they do now. I believe that the codes would be useful in a way but they are also not very realistic if u really think about it. If we used the codes today in the United States I think that thereRead MoreLaw Code of Hammurabi966 Words   |  4 PagesLaw Code of Hammurabi Formerly a region of much conflict, the Babylonian Kingdom unified Sumerian and Akkadian city-states under King Hammurabi. King Hammurabi was the first king of Babylon, he reigned from 1792-1750 B.C.E. (Arts and Culture).During his reign Babylon became a great metropolis. Hammurabi’s code was a legal document that is today considered not only the earliest known written body of laws, but also historic art. The law codes are inscribed on to a stele, which is a slab of stoneRead MoreHammurabi and Law Codes895 Words   |  4 PagesLaw codes serve two major functions, to promote order and enforce stability. Not all law codes are the same. They differ depending on the influences acting upon the ruler, and the region the laws are created to work for. Even so, the laws all serve the same purpose. Like Ashoka’s Pillars and Hammurabi’s code. Asoka’s laws and Hammurabi’s laws differ on the grounds of social systems, yet relate on the idea of technolog y. The social aspects of the law codes of Hammurabi and Ashoka differ greatlyRead MoreThe Law Of The Code Of Hammurabi825 Words   |  4 PagesAs seen in both of the above mentioned law codes, different crimes have different punishments. It is more implicated than just saying severe crimes receive increasingly severe punishments. It involves the law maker’s moral principles. Looking at the Code of Hammurabi again, it can be seen that cultivated land was extremely important to life. That one tangible crop could make the difference between a healthy life and starvation. The sheer number of laws regarding farm land should be point enough toRead MoreLaw Code of Hammurabi1491 Words   |  6 Pages| Code of Hammurabi | The United States Constitution | | | Everything and everyone has a history. Things and materials do not just appear on this earth. They all have beginning. It’s very interesting to see where things got started. How we came to evolve to the way we are today. Everything is so interesting, but the thing that has caught my attention more is The Code of Hammurabi. According to Judith Levin, The Code of Hammurabi was discovered in the winter of 1902 and 1903 while diggingRead MoreBabylon: The Code of Hammurabi645 Words   |  3 PagesHammurabi ruled as king of the Babylonian Empire from 1795-1750 BCE. Hammurabi is best known for his code of law, known simply as Hammurabis Code, which outlines the basic philosophy of Babylonian criminal justice. Most notably, the eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth mentality was codified in Hammurabis doctrine. This doctrine would go on to influence the Hebrew culture and criminal justice system. It is possible that Hebraic codes of law were derived from those of Babylon during the capt ivityRead More The Code of Hammurabi Essay786 Words   |  4 PagesThe code of Hammurabi By far the most remarkable of the Hammurabi records is the code of laws, the earliest known example of a ruler proclaiming publicity to his people an entire body of laws, arranged in orderly groups, so that all men might read and know what was required of them.1 The code was carved upon a black stone monument, eight feet high, and clearly intended to be reread in public view.2 The Code made known, in a vast number of cases, what the decision would be, and many cases