The Code of Hammurabi

             Hammurabi, king of Babylonia from 1795-1750 BC, is the earliest recorded example of a ruler or king that gave his people a written "entire body of laws arranged in orderly groups" (Horne 1). He did this so that all people under his control would know what he expected of them morally and professionally. This group of laws, known to us as The Code of Hammurabi, gives us great insight on the ways of the Babylonians.
             Hammurabi ruled Babylonia with unlimited power and absolute authority. He expressed goodwill towards his people and protected the weak, lower class citizens from upper class citizens of higher status and power. Women citizens were noble, respected, and free. He protected consumers from professionals causing harm by faulty work and poor work ethics. In addition, he protected his citizens from judges that made careless, unjust mistakes during law cases and court proceedings.
             The Code clearly stipulates punishments for crimes against morality and society. Commonly referred to as the law of "an eye for an eye" and "a tooth for a tooth" (Johns 11), it accepts no excuses or explanations for any crime committed. The only recourse that the accused person would have was to throw himself or herself into the Euphrates River. The belief was that if the accused came back to the shore, carried by the current, they were innocent. If guilty the accused would drown. We can assume that the Babylonians had not learned the skill of swimming at this time. It also gives us insight on how strongly they believed that their gods implemented justice over such events. Another event that suggests Babylonians strongly believed in gods and
             superstitions is the fact that the laws numbered from 1 to 282 do not contain a law numbered as 13. Taking a closer look at the 281 laws in Hammurabi's Code, we can get a more profound look at the ways of the Babylonians. No one
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The Code of Hammurabi. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 12:18, November 24, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/88365.html