Hammmurabi Code Essay: The Code Of Hammurabi

The Code of Hammurabi

In the codes of Hammurabi, there is a generalization that defines most of the rules “An eye for an eye”(Code 196). It shows us that Hammurabi’s justice is processed in a harsh way. Is this fair enough? Was it satisfactory at that point of time? Did Babylonian society deserve it? These questions can’t be answered certainly, but several discussions should be done about it. Because, it is one of the unusual ways to rule in history.

We can pick up in the Babylonian history, likewise in the propaganda of the Code of Hammurabi, the power to rule is given to Hammurabi by the great god of the sun, Shamash. “On the obverse we have a bas-relief exhibiting King Hammurabi receiving the laws from the sun-god, to which the narrative

If he / she swears that he / she did not do this, with the trust to their gods, they let them go or in some cases, they force them to leap into the river and if the gods (in their belief) let them survive, they decide that they are innocent and release them, then punish the person who slandered about him / her. It might become a great risk to tell someone is guilty because of that. But we can ensure that their religious belief is secure and trustful, it makes Babylonian people more loyal to these laws. Otherwise, it is apparent that they have got some of the superstitions about their belief, such as the 13. The code does not exist in the text, because they believe this number is ominous.

One of the most important thing is in these codes that Hammurabi gives a big importance to the property of the free men. There are about 65 codes just for the property, except that, farms, cattle's, slaves, safe keeping issues exists in the codes, to protect them from theft and robbery there are harsh penalties. “If fire breaks out in a house, and some one who comes to put it out cast his eye upon the property of the owner of the house, and take the property of the master of the house, he shall be thrown into that self-same fire.” (Code

The question is, was that way of protecting fair? Granting to the schoolbook of the code, the imports of the laws could be estimated, crime should be decreased, the club should be gets tougher, people should dwell in awe and more privately. The Code of Hammurabi is regarded as the first written text of the codes, With all of these conventions, codes, punishments; judges, polices and municipality first appeared at this time and a post office has been established. It is another effect of The Code of Hammurabi to history and to his people. Also, Hammurabi made the first laws about loans (the 48. Code, for example). It was also about protecting the property and the rights of the free men. Traders’ rights was also protecting well, because it was another important source for Babylon. In the codes, the terms of many kinds of trade had to be recorded and both sides must have a witness for it. In those trades, swearing before gods and witnesses was making the trade trustful and just. In case of a disagreement, those rules are applied