Essay about Hammurabi's Code...... Help Please!!!!?

Question

I'm writing a paper about Hammurabi's Code and I have to include a paragraph about it's significance and what it reveals about Babylonian society. I'm almost done, but I've been working for hours and I'm soooo sleepy that I can't even think anymore. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can write???

Answer 1

Here are a handful of things this "Code" reveals (choose, combine, whatever... but I suggest you first take a look at the STARRED links at the bottom to get the point):

1) The fact that Hammurabi was following the pattern of several earlier (Sumerian) rulers in issuing this "code" suggests he was NOT trying to establish something brand new (even though the prologue brags a bit about his surpassing his predecessors). He saw himself as much like these earlier rulers, and was declaring his legitimacy and suitedness to rule -- since he was a good "shepherd" looking after his people (a common Mesopotamian image for good rulers).

2) The fact that H. published it at the BEGINNING of his reign (those other rulers did so LATE in their rule), suggests that the situation was very STABLE at the time. H did not have to spend a lot of time gaining control and fighting for reforms.

3) The same stability & conservatism is suggested by the great SIMILARITY in the sort of principles expressed in the law in comparison with what we have (though incomplete) from the earlier laws (esp of Lipit-Ishtar)

4) There WERE class distinctions that came into play. Thus, for instance, the penalty for injury to a slave would not be as severe as that to a social equal, let alone a superior. (The "eye for an eye" principle -- which is about making sure the punishment is suited to the crime [not excessive] NOT about "getting revenge" -- only actually applied if the parties were of equal social standing.)

5) The legal system was not only stable but rather complex. The laws (like Lipit-Ishtar's) even reflect the more advanced idea of "tort" (that is, damages for an injured party when there is no evidence of criminal intent).

6) The way the "code" is organized does not suggest an attempt at absolute, careful completeness -- it rather represents more a representative COLLECTION, perhaps of the way such cases had ALREADY been decided, in other words, more a "case law" approach (like the traditional British common law). This again points out the long, gradual and stable history of development... of Mesopotamian societies working out how to handle these matters.

To see some of this spelled out with examples, see the excellent series "Mesopotamia Redeemed" by Daniel Foty (esp. pts 5-7 which focus on Hammurabi's laws)

http://www.pkblogs.com/chrenkoff/2004/10/guest-blogger-mesopotamia-redeemed.html
http://www.pkblogs.com/chrenkoff/2004/11/guest-blogger-mesopotamia-redeemed.html
http://www.pkblogs.com/chrenkoff/2004/11/guest-blogger-mesopotamia-redeemed_24.html
http://chrenkoff.blogspot.com/2004/12/guest-blogger-mesopotamia-redeemed.html

**Parts 5-7 = Hammurabi
http://chrenkoff.blogspot.com/2004/12/guest-blogger-mesopotamia-redeemed_09.html
http://www.pkblogs.com/chrenkoff/2005/01/guest-blogger-mesopotamia-redeemed.html
http://www.pkblogs.com/chrenkoff/2005/06/guest-blogger-mesopotamia-redeemed.html

Parts 8-9 = what happened later
http://www.pkblogs.com/chrenkoff/2005/07/guest-blogger-mesopotamia-redeemed.html
http://www.pkblogs.com/chrenkoff/2005/08/guest-blogger-mesopotamia-redeemed.html

Answer 2

It's significance...plainly put. It signifies early so city need for law and order and consequences for keeping people in 'line'.
I believe his code was place where everyone can see & read it. Everybody knew the law and the punishment for brking the law.
It can show that Babylonian was moving to a more 'centralized' form of government. And also what the law applied the same to both rich & poor.

Don't write this, i'm simplifing.

Answer 3

There is a dual significance to Hammurabi's Code. We look at it today and see a codified law from an ancient people. We see an attempt to bring order to our social lives. On the other hand, it shows us how different a society they had from ours. We can examine their class and gender roles and develop better understandings of how ancient people lived.

Answer 4

umm get off this site and get to WORK! oh and wikipedia SON that stuff is beast!