Essay On The Progressive Code Of Hammurabi

Progressive Codes of Hammurabi

Hammurabi’s, the sixth king of the Babylon, reign has pursued 42 years, between 1792 to 1749 BC. He has presented oneself as "Anu and Bel called by name me, Hammurabi, the exalted prince, who feared God, to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak; so that I should rule over the black-headed people like Shamash, and enlighten the land, to further the well-being of mankind." In other words he says his words like the God’s words and rules. There are several codes at the beginning of civilization in history. Not the earliest but one of the most important and long surviving codes in ancient history are the law codes of

The tight boat he shall give to the boat owner.

These codes guarantee the quality of work for customers and also make sellers to keep the quality higher than a certain level. This can encourage the customers to spend their money wisely. It effects economy in positive ways. This also make people to do their job conscientiously. “Eye for an eye” motto creates an illusion that the rules are equal. However the codes was based on equality in the fact that in Hammurabi codes, rules are not equal for everyone in social structure. There is social class discrimination in the Babylon social system like the other countries during the period that the kingdom of Babylon exist. It depends on gender, which class are you belong in the society, who is your father, all that matter. The class that you are in specify your punishment. For example to social class discrimination in the Babylon social system:

• If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out.

• If he put out the eye of a freed man, or break the bone of a freed man, he shall pay one gold

The social class discrimination affects these codes which is not good for equality of law. Rules about trading can improve the quality of job and develop the economy. In the other hand the codes about daily life and family, for example fighting of two men or divorcing of a man and a woman, are based on revenge feeling and so brutal. However, the codes are still proggressive and effective according to conditions of period. It also affect the cultures and societies for centuries. Fear of the punishments affected to kingdom in so many good ways like improve architecture, trade and