What Can You Tell From the Code of Hammurabi About the Social and Family Structure of Babylon

Learning Objective

• Describe the significance of Hammurabi's code

Key Points

• The Code of Hammurabi is one of the oldest deciphered writings of length in the world (written c. 1754 BCE), and features a code of law from ancient Babylon in Mesopotamia.
• The Code consisted of 282 laws, with punishments that varied based on social condition (slaves, free men, and holding owners).
• Some have seen the Code every bit an early on form of ramble government, as an early form of the presumption of innocence, and every bit the ability to nowadays evidence in one'southward case.
• Major laws covered in the Lawmaking include slander, trade, slavery, the duties of workers, theft, liability, and divorce. Nigh one-half of the code focused on contracts, and a 3rd on household relationships.
• There were three social classes: the amelu (the elite), the mushkenu (free men) and ardu (slave).
• Women had limited rights, and were mostly based around union contracts and divorce rights.

Terms

cuneiform

Wedge-shaped characters used in the ancient writing systems of Mesopotamia, impressed on dirt tablets.

ardu

In Babylon, a slave.

mushkenu

In Babylon, a costless man who was probably landless.

amelu

In Babylon, an elite social grade of people.

stele

A stone or wooden slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected as a monument.

The Lawmaking of Hammurabi is one of the oldest deciphered writings of length in the earth, and features a code of law from ancient Babylon in Mesopotamia. Written in nearly 1754 BCE by the 6th male monarch of Babylon, Hammurabi, the Code was written on stone stele and dirt tablets. It consisted of 282 laws, with punishments that varied based on social status (slaves,  complimentary men, and belongings owners). It is near famous for the "an eye for an heart, a tooth for a tooth" (lex talionis) form of penalisation. Other forms of codes of constabulary had been in existence in the region effectually this fourth dimension, including the Code of Ur-Nammu, king of Ur (c. 2050 BCE), the Laws of Eshnunna (c. 1930 BCE) and the codex of Lipit-Ishtar of Isin (c. 1870 BCE).

The laws were bundled in groups, and then that citizens could easily read what was required of them. Some accept seen the Lawmaking equally an early form of constitutional government, and as an early form of the presumption of innocence, and the ability to present evidence in one'southward example. Intent was often recognized and affected penalization, with neglect severely punished. Some of the provisions may take been codification of Hammurabi'south decisions, for the purpose of cocky-glorification. Nevertheless, the Code was studied, copied, and used as a model for legal reasoning for at to the lowest degree 1500 years after.

The prologue of the Code features Hammurabi stating that he wants "to make justice visible in the land, to destroy the wicked person and the evil-doer, that the stiff might non hurt the weak." Major laws covered in the Code include slander, merchandise, slavery, the duties of workers, theft, liability, and divorce. Nearly half of the code focused on contracts, such as wages to be paid, terms of transactions, and liability in instance of property harm. A third of the code focused on household and family unit problems, including inheritance, divorce, paternity and sexual behavior. One section establishes that a gauge who incorrectly decides an issue may be removed from his position permanently. A few sections address military service.

One of the most well-known sections of the Code was law #196: "If a human being destroy the eye of another human being, they shall destroy his eye. If one suspension a man'southward bone, they shall intermission his bone. If one destroy the eye of a freeman or pause the os of a freeman he shall pay ane gold mina. If one destroy the center of a human'south slave or break a os of a human'due south slave he shall pay one-half his price."

The Social Classes

Under Hammurabi's reign, there were three social classes. The amelu was originally an aristocracy person with full civil rights, whose birth, marriage and decease were recorded. Although he had certain privileges, he also was liable for harsher punishment and college fines. The rex and his court, high officials, professionals and craftsmen belonged to this group. The mushkenu was a costless man who may have been landless. He was required to accept monetary compensation, paid smaller fines and lived in a separate department of the city. The ardu was a slave whose master paid for his upkeep, merely as well took his compensation. Ardu could ain property and other slaves, and could purchase his own freedom.

Women's Rights

Women entered into union through a contract arranged by her family. She came with a dowry, and the gifts given by the groom to the bride also came with her. Divorce was up to the husband, but later on divorce he then had to restore the dowry and provide her with an income, and whatever children came under the woman's custody. Nevertheless, if the adult female was considered a "bad wife" she might be sent away, or made a slave in the husband'south house. If a married woman brought action against her husband for cruelty and neglect, she could have a legal separation if the case was proved. Otherwise, she might be drowned as punishment. Adultery was punished with drowning of both parties, unless a married man was willing to pardon his wife.

Discovery of the Code

Archaeologists, including Egyptologist Gustave Jequier, discovered the code in 1901 at the aboriginal site of Susa in Khuzestan; a translation was published in 1902 by Jean-Vincent Scheil. A basalt stele containing the code in cuneiform script inscribed in the Akkadian language is currently on brandish in the Louvre, in Paris, France. Replicas are located at other museums throughout the world.

The Code of Hammurabi. This basalt stele has the Code of Hammurabi inscribed in cuneiform script in the Akkadian language.

gomezwitas1980.blogspot.com

Source: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/atd-herkimer-westerncivilization/chapter/hammurabis-code/

Share this post