The%20Code%20of%20Hammurabi

1
The Code of Hammurabi

• The Birth of Law

2
Prologue

• When Anu the Sublime, King of the Anunaki, and
  Bel, the lord of Heaven and earth, who decreed
  the fate of the land, assigned to Marduk, the
  over-ruling son of Ea, God of righteousness,
  dominion over earthly man, and made him great
  among the Igigi, they called Babylon by his
  illustrious name, made it great on earth, and
  founded an everlasting kingdom in it, whose
  foundations are laid so solidly as those of
  heaven and earth then 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.
• Source Mesopotamia The Code of Hammurabi,
  http//www.wsu.edu/dee/MESO/CODE.HTM

3
LEARNING GOALS

• Describe the contributions of various
• individuals and groups to the development of
  legal traditions
• Describe how legal traditions contributed to a
  sense of continuity
• Evaluate the role and importance of various
  Mesopotamian innovations

4
Warm-up

• You be the judge
• http//www.phillipmartin.info/hammurabi/homepage.h
  tm

5
Hammurabis Code Background

• Hammurabis Code is the first known written legal
  code in history.
• Created by the Babylonian king c.1780 BCE
• Established the important concept of Rule of Law
• Established clearly the functions of Babylonian
  society
• Established punishments for crimes relative to
  the severity (punishment fits the crime)
• Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth
• The Code consists of 281 laws
• Hammurabi felt as though it was his duty to write
  these laws to please the gods

6
Hammurabis Code (Detail)?

• This image is from the top of Hammurabis Code of
  Laws (stone stele)
• The carving (relief) depicts the King Hammurabi
  receiving the symbols of authority from the god
  Shamash (god of justice)

7
Hammurabis Code (Detail)?

• The principal subjects are family law, slavery,
  and professional, commercial, agricultural and
  administrative law.
• Economic measures set prices and salaries.
• The longest chapter concerns the family, which
  formed the basis of Babylonian society. It deals
  with engagement, marriage and divorce, adultery
  and incest, children, adoption and inheritance,
  and the duties of children's nurses.

8
Consolidation

• In pairs, review this selection of laws from
  Hammurabis Code.
• Classify each of the laws on that page into
  categories
• (label next to each law with an initial e.g.
  T theft)?
• - you will probably find that you need approx.
  6-8 categories
• - be sure to write your categories and their
  codes at the bottom of the second page
• 3. Answer all questions on the handout The Code
  of Hammurabi Primary Source
• Now, answer the final and most important question

9
KING HARRYABIS CODE In
groups, develop and record a code of five (5)
basic laws for our class (King Harryabis Code
thats right!) The processa. Decide first on
the principles that will inform your laws and the
major issues the laws should deal with.b.
Come up with your five (5) appropriate class
laws.c. Be sure to reveal your punishments for
each. d. Make your own STELE - record and
present your laws on the chart paper provided.
Design it to suit the purpose be creative!