We imagine ancient civilizations to be barbaric, cruel, and ruthless. Yet even the most barbaric of societies contain rules, a sense of order. That is why the Code of Hammurabi was created, to rule their people and destroy any chaos that remained in their country. However, the most perfect of these societies have their faults and issues. In Babylonian society, we see an astonishing work of social ranking, where the men, women, and children are treated by this rank and nothing more.
To begin, it is incredibly obvious of how ranking affected the people.“If a man knocks out the teeth of his equal, his teeth shall be knocked out (200).” An alternative meaning for this rule, the famously quoted phrase,“an eye for an eye.” When that same man strikes another of a higher ranking than himself, “He shall receive sixty blows with an ox-whip in public(202).” …show more content…
In the code, we see slaves denouncing their masters, and sons denouncing their fathers. Although, what of those same masters and fathers doing the same back? It is highly unheard of. I deduce that to the Babylonians, it either didn’t matter or never happened.
Finally, women are treated by their rank, but still a social injustice occurs. Women were treated slightly worse, but not by a huge margin. But law 149 shows that they treated their women with respect, “If this woman does not wish to remain in her husband’s house, then he shall compensate her for the dowry that she brought with her from her father’s house.”
Our democracy attempts an equality between our people, so unlike the Babylonians. In the end, we are just as unfair as them; rewarding the rich and punishing the poor. Ulitimately, the Code of Hammurabi shows the fascinating rank social structure regarding their
To begin, it is incredibly obvious of how ranking affected the people.“If a man knocks out the teeth of his equal, his teeth shall be knocked out (200).” An alternative meaning for this rule, the famously quoted phrase,“an eye for an eye.” When that same man strikes another of a higher ranking than himself, “He shall receive sixty blows with an ox-whip in public(202).” …show more content…
In the code, we see slaves denouncing their masters, and sons denouncing their fathers. Although, what of those same masters and fathers doing the same back? It is highly unheard of. I deduce that to the Babylonians, it either didn’t matter or never happened.
Finally, women are treated by their rank, but still a social injustice occurs. Women were treated slightly worse, but not by a huge margin. But law 149 shows that they treated their women with respect, “If this woman does not wish to remain in her husband’s house, then he shall compensate her for the dowry that she brought with her from her father’s house.”
Our democracy attempts an equality between our people, so unlike the Babylonians. In the end, we are just as unfair as them; rewarding the rich and punishing the poor. Ulitimately, the Code of Hammurabi shows the fascinating rank social structure regarding their