Hamurabis Code
Hammurabi’s Code.
Hammurabi, king and chief priest of Babylonia from 1792-1750 B.C., expanded his empire greatly before focusing his energies toward wealth and justice for his people. He created a code protecting all classes of Babylonian society, including women and slaves called Hammurabi’s Code. He sought protection of the weak from the powerful and the poor from the rich. The carving on the stone suggests he received the code of laws from the sun god.
Having a consistent and documented, although harsh, set of rules stabilized their society. People had guidelines for behavior and could plan their lives a little better. The were probably fewer private feuds and vendettas and injustices as a result for these codes. Although considered severely harsh by todays Standards, Hammurabi’s code punished evildoers and rewarded the good doers. The actual laws range from public to private matters, with humane approaches to human problems. There were three classes in the Babylonian society: the patrician, who were the free men and women; the plebeians, who were the commoners; and the slaves. While the patricians were protected by the law of retaliation, the lower classes received only monetary compensation. The laws include almost everything from marriage and family relations to protection of property. Although compared to todays standards some may consider Hammurabi’s laws harsh, threatening severe punishments for crimes against property, land, and commerce The impact of Hammurabi’s code made the kingdom stronger and secured.
The Code of Hammurabi is significant because its creation allowed men, women, slaves, and all others to read and understand the laws that governed their lives in Babylonia. The code of laws encouraged people to accept authority of a king, who was trying to give common rules to govern the subjects' behavior. Although it follows the practice of "an eye for an eye", it does not allow for vigilante justice, but rather demands a trial by judges.
Hammurabi, king and chief priest of Babylonia from 1792-1750 B.C., expanded his empire greatly before focusing his energies toward wealth and justice for his people. He created a code protecting all classes of Babylonian society, including women and slaves called Hammurabi’s Code. He sought protection of the weak from the powerful and the poor from the rich. The carving on the stone suggests he received the code of laws from the sun god.
Having a consistent and documented, although harsh, set of rules stabilized their society. People had guidelines for behavior and could plan their lives a little better. The were probably fewer private feuds and vendettas and injustices as a result for these codes. Although considered severely harsh by todays Standards, Hammurabi’s code punished evildoers and rewarded the good doers. The actual laws range from public to private matters, with humane approaches to human problems. There were three classes in the Babylonian society: the patrician, who were the free men and women; the plebeians, who were the commoners; and the slaves. While the patricians were protected by the law of retaliation, the lower classes received only monetary compensation. The laws include almost everything from marriage and family relations to protection of property. Although compared to todays standards some may consider Hammurabi’s laws harsh, threatening severe punishments for crimes against property, land, and commerce The impact of Hammurabi’s code made the kingdom stronger and secured.
The Code of Hammurabi is significant because its creation allowed men, women, slaves, and all others to read and understand the laws that governed their lives in Babylonia. The code of laws encouraged people to accept authority of a king, who was trying to give common rules to govern the subjects' behavior. Although it follows the practice of "an eye for an eye", it does not allow for vigilante justice, but rather demands a trial by judges.