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Compare between the two legal laws of Hammurabi
Hammurabi laws and modern laws
Hammurabi laws and modern laws
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Throughout the world, people consider The Code of Hammurabi one of the most important codes of law ever recorded in the history of the world based on what it tells us about the history of early Babylon. The code gives people a way to see not only how the society of Babylon developed early on but also how other civilizations were developing complex societies, which were similar to the Babylonians. However, the code also shows us how the role of written documents and writing is effectively portrayed in Hammurabi’s laws. This is effectively observed by analyzing what types of documents the code provides evidence for, what are situations and reasons in which Babylonians used writing, and if writing is the only acceptable form of proof. The Code of Hammurabi is one of the most important codes ever recorded because it shows us evidence of early principles of justice, which provide proof for early legal documentation; gives us observable, physical proof of the Babylonian beliefs for future people to witness; and shows us how written works are the only acceptable form of proof because of the historical accuracy of the work. Hammurabi’s Code provides evidence for early documents that signify law and order. For instance, Hammurabi’s says in his code if a man wrongs another with his false accusations, he shall be subjected to death (1, 3). His laws illustrate a judicial system in which someone has to pay someone that they wronged in either the same way that they wronged him or through money depending on the person’s social status. It is also said in his code of law that there were penalties for those who disobeyed his laws. For example, Hammurabi says, “If that man do not pay attention to my words…may the great god, the father of the gods, ... ... middle of paper ... ... for future people to witness; and shows us how written works are the only acceptable form of proof because of the historical accuracy of the work. Hammurabi’s laws were part of the beginning of a new era in the history of the ancient near east because as a result of these laws, early principles of law and order were created, which influenced to a certain extent Babylonian society. Also, the importance of the observable proof of Hammurabi’s and Babylonians beliefs and customs is immeasurable because we get to observe how early rulers created codes of law as proof of their divine right to rule. By people continuing to place all of their efforts to find and observe important ancient artifacts can we hope to understand our past better. Only through diligence and hard work can humanity fill in the gaps in history and learn from its past in order to have a better future.
Back in the days, during the time of ancient Greece, or as it was so famously called Mesopotamia. There was a king named Hammurabi whom created a set of laws to govern the people. This laws were called the code of Hammurabi. In this essay i am going to be talking about the differences and the similarities between the law of hammurabi and our modern day law. In my view, the difference between hammurabi’s law and the law we use today are; the strictness of hammurabi’s law, the barbaric nature of the law, and the possibility of inheriting another man’s property legally over trial. However they are some similarities between the two different laws. The similarities are; the both set of laws are written laws, both laws punished criminals, both have instructions for police officers, judges, and witnesses to follow.
Hammurabi, the Babylonian king 3700 years ago, set down the very first code of written laws; Hammurabi’s code of law was one of very first set of written laws that he wanted everyone to follow. It did not matter if you were rich or poor; if you had violated the law, you were to be punished. The laws that Hammurabi created were not just for criminal cases but there were also some laws on property law, family law, marriage law and more. Hammurabi’s code of law changed the way how most people lived in Mesopotamia, because they would have to obey the law and follow it at all time. Hammurabi’s law had outlined everyone's roles in society: slaves, women, men, and nobles. The law marked a turning point for Babylonians of all classes, who now knew what to expect from their king and government in all areas of life.
Laws play a major role in the expansion of a nation. Justice is the upholding of those laws from an impartial standpoint. King Hammurabi managed to organize one of the first best preserved set of laws from ancient Babylonian times. The Code of Hammurabi was recorded on clay tablets standing eight feet high. The laws consisted of 282 provisions arranged under a variety of subjects ranging from family and personal property to trade and business. These laws established consequences with the philosophy that the punishment should fit the crime.
Hammurabi came into power as a young man. Although he was young, he had already gained respect and trust will many powerful duties. In the early years of his rule, projects such as repairs, trading deals, and expansion were the corriculum. But as he aged, so did his wisdom. He began to have more specific laws than most. Eventually, he had his 282 laws etched on stone in Cuneiform. These would be the governing laws of all his people. People then knew all the punishments and consequences for breaking the laws, and they knew what they must due when accusing a criminal. (We know what we must do on Saturday to Woodstock, don’t we?) Hammurabi created a set of moral codes that was to be copied and used by other civilizations.
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 of Hammurabi creating a lasting impression on the world. The high level of organization and order of law that was produced was used in many civilizations which, most of the time, has led to a flourishing, orderly civilization. The Code of Hammurabi is also the basis of religious laws and considered the base of Jewish and Christian legal systems. Although the code sometimes left the punishing to the Gods, by flinging the accused in water or fire seeing if the individual would survive , today’s countries have enough police and governmental power to enforce the laws. Overall, the Code of Hammurabi played a necessary role in shaping today’s morals of civilians and laws of the government.
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 implications it had after its inception.
The code of Hammurabi reflected many things about the Babylonian society. It reflects that stealing was a very bad thing to do, in more than one way. For example, if someone stole an ox, a sheep, an ass, a pig, or a ship, they would have to pay thirty times the value of what they had stolen, and if they could not repay, they would be put to death. If someone attempted to break into another person's house, they would be killed and buried there, and if a man took a slave and made it his, his hands would be cut off. Honesty was another thing that was very important to the Babylonians. If a woman was accused by her husband of sleeping with another man, and she can't prove that she hadn't, she had to throw herself in the river. This also shows that adultery was unacceptable. For example, if a man's wife were caught with another man, the two would be tied together and thrown in the river. Incest was also forbidden in their society. I...
In his position as King of Babylonia, Hammurabi managed to organize the world's first code of laws 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" (Grolier). 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, the first of its kind, therefore making himself one of the world's 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 his laws into groups such as family, labor, personal property, real estate, trade, and business. This was the first 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 Hammurabi's rule used some of the same laws that were included in Hammurabi's code. Hammurabi's 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 high black stone monument. Hammurabi based 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. The code was severe in it's penalties, prescribing "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.""(Grolier). This code of laws was able to be maintained by invoking the authority of the gods and the state. Although the punishments were different than those of today, the authority of the state (government) is similar. Currently, punishments are issued through the state's law enforcement system, comparable to the way punishment was determined and enforced in ancient Babylon. In the code, crimes punishable by death required a trial in front of a bench of judges. Included in these crimes were: bigamy, incest, kidnapping, adultery and theft.
Hammurabi needed to create a new law code to help solidify his power in Mesopotamia. Under the old laws, society was too unorganized and too difficult to control for Hammurabi. The ancient Mesopotamian science of listing and creating order was now tested on society. In the end, Hammurabi considered his law code a great success, proclaiming that "I expounded all great difficulties, I made the light shine upon them." While there is no doubt Hammurabi exaggerated his claim, he did structure a type of society that lasted much longer than his rule.
History is the past, which for the most part can not be scientificately proven. The real; goal of History is to rediscover past. A dramatic error happens when past is rediscovered from our own bias that is from the way we see it. Even certain artifacts and works pf literature that we have left from earlier civilizations can be interpreted in several different ways, or misinterpreted to a certain extend or entirely. Usually interpretation or even misinterpretation is affected bu the concept of ethnocentrism, where different communities have an already set up establishment of certain norms based on their own believes, traditions, social, legislative, and personal values and ethics from which they judge other foreign communities. When considering other societies, it is usually a difficult task to view “other world” without any observer prejudices. Each world, our and their can evoke its own realities that are more or less comparable from one period to another, or from one culture to another. One of the obvious misinterpretations, discussed in this paper, took place considering historical document written by king of Mesopotamia. Our textbook, Arts and Culture,(p 98) presents Hammurabi’s Code as a “Law Code” of king Hammurabi. It was, in turn something quite different from a Code of Laws existing in our judicial and legislative structure of government and society. Hammurabi’s Code- “A law Code” or a set of royal decisions??? As written in Mesopotamia: The Mighty Kings, (p26), the code consists if 282 laws that are branched at the beginning and end by a prologue and epilogue. The “Code” touches almost every aspect of everyday life in Babylonya. As the prologue states, the laws were supposedly written “to promote the welfare of the people,…to cause just to prevail in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil, that the strong might not oppress the weak” ( The Human Record, p 12). Furthermore, just like a real Law Code, each “law” is written in the form of conditional sentence: in which the phrase is introduced by a certain condition, “if” and the consequence follows “then”. Another fact makes Hammurabi’s “Code” so similar to the U.S. Constitutional Law Code is that it follows specific order, consisting of separate “chapters” associated with similar issues. For instance;” The Administration of Justice” “chapter” is followed by “Felons and Victums”, which is in turn followed by “chapter” that talks about “Property” issues.
Hammurabi’s code was a prominent achievement in Ancient Mesopotamian history. Hammurabi’s law code was a set of principles that regulated the actions and behaviors of Mesopotamians. These laws represented authority, making it clear that individuals who broke the law would receive equal, but harsh consequences. For example, one of the several laws from “The Code of Hammurabi,” translated by Paul Brians states, “If he break another [noble-]man’s bone, his bone shall be broken.” This suggests that if an individual commits a wrong-doing, that individual shall receive a punishment that fit the crime. The Code of Hammurabi made sure that everyone understood the penalties for breaking the laws to make sure behaviors and actions were controlled. With more people beginning to follow these laws, society maintained the standard of order and stability. However, failures followed law codes’ efforts to maintain order within the civilization. The models of law at the time gave upper classes more freedom than the lower classes, contributing to social disorder, as some did not think the laws were as fair as they seemed. For instance, “a higher-ranking man who physically hurt a commoner or slave, perhaps by breaking his arm or putting out his eye, could pay a fine to the victim instead of having his arm broken or losing his own eye,” (19) depicted the unfairness of some laws.
King Hammurabi viewed himself as “a shepherd, chosen by god Enlil to prevail justice in Babylon” (Brophy, 27-28), therefore, King Hammurabi came up with the codes of Hammurabi. The codes of Hammurabi were a one-sided set of rules that favored the “awilu”-a free man, probably an owner of private land and with a status higher than that of a commoner” (Brophy,
The law code of Hammurabi relates to established principles of law in the Western world today because it is similar to both a religious text such as the Ten Commandments and a text establishing order and rights such as The Constitution. Similar to both the Ten Commandments and The Constitution, the law code of Hammurabi was written and displayed for all to see which further proclaimed its power and importance. Also, it seems like it was an open to interpretation in court cases, much like how The Constitution was written for interpretation so that way it could be applicable to court cases of today even though it was written 223 years ago. Even though it didn’t cover every possible social issue, it could be used as a starting point to know where to take the case. One major difference between the code and current day laws is the code believed in an “eye for an eye” mentality, while today we believe in humane punishments such as fines and jail
King, L. W. (n.a.). Hammurabi's Code of Laws. Retrieved 07 22, 2010, from Exploring Ancient