Essay Examples on HAMMURABI Essay Example

Essay Examples on HAMMURABI Paper 1st Essay Sample on HAMMURABI The formers of the Hammurabis Code of Laws surely created strict rules with severe punishments for their violation. In fact, these laws played a big role in organization of Mesopotamian society. Reading these laws, reader may learn about ideals people of Mesopotamia had about crimes, their attitude to the lower and higher social classes, and legal rights between men and women. Reading the laws I noticed that many crimes were punished by death penalty. Many laws tell that guilty person has to pay the same price for the physical harm one did to another person or ones relative (laws 196, 197, 229, 230). For instance: law 196 states: If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out. In addition, at that time, people were penalized to death for many crimes or wrongdoings that almost never would be penalized with capital punishment at a modern time. Among such felony and misdemeanors are stealing (6, 14, 21), robbery (22), accusation (2,3), adultery (129, 130), and desertion (32, 33). Hammurabis Code also, reveals inequality between social classes. Slaves were not treated by the laws the same as free-born people. For example: In law 202 it says: If any one strike the body of a man higher in rank than he, he shall receive sixty blows with an ox-whip in public. At the same time in law 203 we read: If a free-born man strike the body of another free-born man or equal rank, he shall pay one gold mine. It will not take much effort for a free-born man to pay one gold mine for his wrongdoing, but for the slave it is much more dreadful and humiliating to receive sixty blows w ith a whip in public. We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on HAMMURABI specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on HAMMURABI specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on HAMMURABI specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer According to the Code of Hammurabi, women had some legal rights, but these rights were not equal to mens. Married women had a right to divorce as well as men. 2nd Essay Sample on HAMMURABI In his position as king of Babylonia, Hammurabi managed to organize the worldsfirst code of law and establish Babylon as the dominant and successful Amorite City of its time.Records written on clay tablets show that Hammurabi was a very capable administrator and a successful warrior.His rule spanned from 1792 B.C. to 1750 B.C.When he became king in 1792, he was still young, but had already become entrusted with many official duties in his administration. In the early years of his reign, Hammurabi mostly participated in traditional activities, such as repairing buildings, digging canals, and fighting wars.Yet later in his rule, Hammurabi organized a unique code of laws, thefirst of its kind, therefore making himself one of the worlds most influential leaders.Hammurabi was primarily influential to the world because of his code of laws.This code consisted of 282 provisions, systematically arranged under a variety of subjects.He sorted hiss laws into groups such as family, labor persona l property, real estate, trade, and business.This was thefirst time in history that any laws had been categorized into various sections.This format of organization was emulated by civilizations of the future. For example, Semitic cultures succeeding Hammurabis rule used some of the same laws that were included in Hammurabis code. Hammurabis method of thought is evident in present day societies, which are influenced by his code.Modern governments currently create specific laws, which are placed into their appropriate family of similar laws. Hammurabi had his laws recorded upon an eight foot black stone monument.Hammurabi based on his code on principles like, the strong should not injure the weak, and that punishment should fit the crime.As for punishment, legal actions were initiated under the code by written pleadings; testimony was taken under oath.