Term Paper on "Hammurabi's Code of Laws"

Term Paper 6 pages (2060 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

This aspect of the code reflects the hierarchical nature of the society in which the "amelu" (patricians) occupied the highest rung of the ladder and enjoyed greater privileges as well as responsibilities, followed by the "muskinu" (plebian), people who were freemen but probably landless, and the "ardu" (slaves), who formed the bulk of the population. However, in many ways, the Code was designed to ensure social justice as tenants were protected from landlords, borrowers from lenders, and buyers of goods from merchants. (Chamliss, 29-31)

The code reveals that the Babylonian society was not as patriarchal as some subsequent ones such as the Roman society in which the father had the right of 'life and death' over his children. For example, one of Hammurabi's Codes does not allow a father to disinherit a son unless the son had committed a crime "sufficiently grave to cut him off from sonship." The status of Babylonian women was much greater than given to women in some societies of our own time. Some provisions of the Code indicate that a woman in Hammurabi's reign could run an independent business, own slaves, control an estate, buy and sell property in her own name, make a will, go to court to address her grievances, adopt a son or a daughter, and in general enjoy the privileges similar to men. (Chamliss, 33-34)

Conclusion

Hammurabi's Code of Laws is perhaps the most valuable piece of historical document ever found. It gives us an invaluable insight into the lives of people of distant antiquity (2000 years before the Christian era). It reveals that Babylonia was a great trading and agricultural community, in an advanced stage of civilization. Moreover, the laws written by the great Babylonian king "in stone" have influenced the laws made by all subsequent societies. This is probably because Hammurabi's Code contains important elements of justice and fairness, although it may seem exceedingly harsh by our present-day standards.

Works Cited

Chambliss, Rollin. Social Thought: From Hammurabi to Comte. New York: Dryden Press, 1954.

Hertzler, Joyce O. The Social Thought of the Ancient Civilizations. Ed. Edward Byron Reuter. 1st ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1936.

King, L.W. "Code of Hammurabi, c. 1780 BCE. Translation of the Text." 1998. Ancient History Sourcebook. August 9, 2005. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/hamcode.html

Souvay, Charles L. "Hammurabi." New Advent: the Catholic Encyclopedia. 2003. August 9, 2005. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07125a.htm

There is some difference of opinion among historians about the dates of Hammurabi's reign. Various dates, such as 2042 BC, 2130 BC, 1990 BC and 1728 BC have also been suggested as the date of his accession to the throne.

Marduk was the name of a god and patron deity of the city of Babylon. During Hammurabi's reign and the rise of Babylon as the main city of Babylonia, Marduk became the chief god who had precedence over other smaller gods.

Numbers 13, 66 -- 99, 110, and 111 are missing from the carvings having been chiseled out from the stone carvings, seemingly to create space for inscription by a subsequent Babylonian ruler that was never made.

Code # 196 states, "If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out." However, the rule applies only to offenses committed against men of equal standing; hence Code # 198 states: If he put out the eye of a man's slave, or break… READ MORE

How to Reference "Hammurabi's Code of Laws" Term Paper in a Bibliography

Related Term Papers:

Hammurabi's Code Reflected the Mesopotamian Society of His Time Essay

Code of Hammurabi:

Influences on History and Contemporary Law and Society

In the 1700s B.C. Hammurabi managed to do what the modern state of Britain has still not attained to… read more

Essay 4 pages (1359 words) Sources: 4 Style: MLA Topic: Law / Legal / Jurisprudence

---

Hammurabi of Babylon Thesis

Hammurabi and His Code

Hammurabi was the sixth ruler in the first dynasty of Babylon (2250 B.C.) and his reign lasted for about 50 years. He was a noble soldier… read more

Thesis 4 pages (1211 words) Sources: 5 Topic: Law / Legal / Jurisprudence

---

Hammurabi Empire Code Research Proposal

Hammurabi Code

In the United States, the Penal Code is driven by the U.S.Constitution. And the penal code keeps expanding to take into account modern times. The U.S. Constitution is… read more

Research Proposal 8 pages (3031 words) Sources: 6 Style: MLA Topic: Law / Legal / Jurisprudence

---

Laws of Moses and Hammurabi Term Paper

Law in Ancient Times:

Comparison of the Laws of Moses and Hammurabi

From earliest times, societies have struggled with questions of law and order. At first decisions as to the… read more

Term Paper 8 pages (2944 words) Sources: 9 Style: Chicago Topic: Law / Legal / Jurisprudence

---

Trace the Development of Law Essay

Trace the development of law from the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi to the Romans. Include in your discussion the Judaic concept of law and how it differed from both Babylon… read more

Essay 5 pages (1643 words) Sources: 3 Topic: Law / Legal / Jurisprudence

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>