Woah, watch out! A crazy thief burst through your wall and stole silver, but soon after is caught. Does he deserve to die? According to Hammurabi's Code, the thief would be pierced or hung in the hole that he entered (Document D), but is this punishment just? King Hammurabi reigned from 1792 BC to 1750 BC in Mesopotamia, he being one of the first rulers to write down a complete set of laws. His code, an accommodation of 282 laws, was inscribed on a large stone pillar called a stele (Document A). King Hammurabi strived to created a society in which the weak were protected and brought fairness and justice using laws that were sent from the God of justice, Shamash. As ruler over Mesopotamia, Hammurabi proclaimed during his reign that these
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Firstly, Law 23 states that if a robber has not been caught, the victim of the robber can appeal to a god and say what has been stolen from him. Following his appeal, the mayor and the rest of the city are required to replace the man with what has been stolen (Document D). Law 23 is fair to the victim because he was given what he had lost, as well as society because the law applies to all citizens. Others may say Law 23 is unfair because the citizens had to pay for the wrongdoings of another person; however, it is similar to the insurance we have today in our society. Equally important, Law 48 states the following: “If a man has borrowed money to plant his fields and a storm has flooded his field or carried away the crop, ... in that year he does not have to pay his creditor” (Document D). In Mesopotamian times, it was common for floods to occur due to the geography. Furthermore, religion was the center of life for ancient Mesopotamians, who were polytheistic, and believed the floods sent upon them held signs. When these floods (happened), they were considered to be brought by the gods, resulting in the farmer not being required to pay his creditor. Lastly, Laws 53 and 54 state that when a man opens his trench for irrigation and flood his neighbor’s field, the man must replace the crop that he caused to be lost (Document D). Since most of Hammurabi’s subjects were farmers, it would be greatly misfortunate if one of their crops were to die because of an action of another (Document A). To prevent the farmer to go without his crop, King Hammurabi created Laws 53 and 54. On the topic of justice, it would only be fair for the man who flooded his neighbor’s crop to repay him, the weak one in the situation. Evident in the property laws, King Hammurabi brought justice to those living in ancient
Firstly, Law 23 states that if a robber has not been caught, the victim of the robber can appeal to a god and say what has been stolen from him. Following his appeal, the mayor and the rest of the city are required to replace the man with what has been stolen (Document D). Law 23 is fair to the victim because he was given what he had lost, as well as society because the law applies to all citizens. Others may say Law 23 is unfair because the citizens had to pay for the wrongdoings of another person; however, it is similar to the insurance we have today in our society. Equally important, Law 48 states the following: “If a man has borrowed money to plant his fields and a storm has flooded his field or carried away the crop, ... in that year he does not have to pay his creditor” (Document D). In Mesopotamian times, it was common for floods to occur due to the geography. Furthermore, religion was the center of life for ancient Mesopotamians, who were polytheistic, and believed the floods sent upon them held signs. When these floods (happened), they were considered to be brought by the gods, resulting in the farmer not being required to pay his creditor. Lastly, Laws 53 and 54 state that when a man opens his trench for irrigation and flood his neighbor’s field, the man must replace the crop that he caused to be lost (Document D). Since most of Hammurabi’s subjects were farmers, it would be greatly misfortunate if one of their crops were to die because of an action of another (Document A). To prevent the farmer to go without his crop, King Hammurabi created Laws 53 and 54. On the topic of justice, it would only be fair for the man who flooded his neighbor’s crop to repay him, the weak one in the situation. Evident in the property laws, King Hammurabi brought justice to those living in ancient