Hammurabi's Babylonia from The Babylonians
There is always a way something started, this also includes law. Believe it or not, our ancestors from Mesopotamia, the Sumerians, were some of the first to invent these rulers/punishments that now-a-days are given in court. Hammurabi’s code was the one that marked the beginning of law. Laws are not always fair, and his was an example of it. His code covered marriage, divorce, adoption, assault, trade, stealing, renting etc. the whole code consisted of 280 sections. Laws might seem fair from one point of view, and unfair from the other, some of these laws were for example:
medium-artisans, traders, merchants
low rank- workers/farmers
lowest-slaves
In the second rule I mentioned above, it shows how the lower the rank is of the person you operate/help etc. the less money or reward you will receive. In the eyes of a slave, the rules might seem unfair but the king thought they were correct. Of course he didn’t cover every single thing that could happen, but nearly everything bad had a punishment. “Hammurabi claimed that the gods instructed him to write there early legal statues” if it’s true or not we may not know, but we will know he was the first one to create laws. However, Hammurabi’s purpose for having laws was so everyone has some restrictions, so the city can work together and no bad actions should happen.
I think this ruler was very intelligent, because he was the first one to figure out that people can’t do everything they want, and even thought his punishments (cutting off hands/ears/killing etc.) weren’t the nicest, he still created laws which are still used in our daily life. Laws have changed by now, for example:
His law: A husband must stay by his sick women and care for her health even if problems have occurred between them.
Our rules: A husband can leave his women/girlfriend to his free will
Or the fact that dentists and doctors get paid the same from every patient not thinking if they are a lower or higher rank in society. Jails exist now which is why no more ears or hands are being cut off, those may be done only for surgical purposes. However, thanks to Hammurabi’s codes, law now exist and is successfully continuing into the future.
There is always a way something started, this also includes law. Believe it or not, our ancestors from Mesopotamia, the Sumerians, were some of the first to invent these rulers/punishments that now-a-days are given in court. Hammurabi’s code was the one that marked the beginning of law. Laws are not always fair, and his was an example of it. His code covered marriage, divorce, adoption, assault, trade, stealing, renting etc. the whole code consisted of 280 sections. Laws might seem fair from one point of view, and unfair from the other, some of these laws were for example:
- · If a son strikes his father, his hand may be cut off
- · A surgeon operating a wealthy man and saves his life, will be paid 10 coins, if he operates a average person, he gets paid 5 coins, if it’s a slave he will get paid 2coins but if he fails at a surgery, his hand will be cut off.
the highest-king/priest
second highest-government officials and military officersmedium-artisans, traders, merchants
low rank- workers/farmers
lowest-slaves
In the second rule I mentioned above, it shows how the lower the rank is of the person you operate/help etc. the less money or reward you will receive. In the eyes of a slave, the rules might seem unfair but the king thought they were correct. Of course he didn’t cover every single thing that could happen, but nearly everything bad had a punishment. “Hammurabi claimed that the gods instructed him to write there early legal statues” if it’s true or not we may not know, but we will know he was the first one to create laws. However, Hammurabi’s purpose for having laws was so everyone has some restrictions, so the city can work together and no bad actions should happen.
I think this ruler was very intelligent, because he was the first one to figure out that people can’t do everything they want, and even thought his punishments (cutting off hands/ears/killing etc.) weren’t the nicest, he still created laws which are still used in our daily life. Laws have changed by now, for example:
His law: A husband must stay by his sick women and care for her health even if problems have occurred between them.
Our rules: A husband can leave his women/girlfriend to his free will
Or the fact that dentists and doctors get paid the same from every patient not thinking if they are a lower or higher rank in society. Jails exist now which is why no more ears or hands are being cut off, those may be done only for surgical purposes. However, thanks to Hammurabi’s codes, law now exist and is successfully continuing into the future.
Landau, Elaine. "Hammurabi's Babylonia." The Babylonians. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 39-44. Print.
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