How was the Hittie law system less harsh than Hammurabi's Code?

Answer 1

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Answer 2

The Hititte's law system was less harsh than Hammurabi's Code because while the latter believed in the expression lex talionis, or "an eye for an eye," the Hititte's used more reasonable punishments, like fines. To make it easier to understand, look at this example: Joe gets in a disagreement with John in a land ruled by Hammurabi. Joe breaks John's nose. Now, John gets to break Joe's nose as his punishment. If this situation took place in the land of the Hitittes, then Joe must give John 2 sheep for compensation. Does that make sense? The Hitittes believed in our 8th Ammendment, no cruel or unusual punishment.

Answer 3

While we have a record of the Code of Hammurabi, our understanding(s) of the laws of the Hittites are less than clear. The code of Hammurabi may seem more harsh because it is fixed in stone and might be applied like a Procrustean bed. The Hittites seem to have functioned with a more flexible clan structure and judged things by case law. There are two hundred paragraphs to the Hittite Law most of them more humane and tolerant than those of Hammurabi's Code and some in structure similar to the Mosaic Law.