Hammurabi, one of the most “righteous” kings, during his 42 years of leading Babylonia. By creating the code of laws, all 282 of them, Hammurabi tried to protect the weak. He also tried to help orphans, widows, and the oppressed (Doc B). He says he got the laws from Shamash, the god of justice, to make the laws fair (BGE, Doc A, Doc B). Everyone has many different ideas on Hammurabi’s code, like if Hammurabi’s laws are fair or if Hammurabi actually got the laws from Shamash. Or even if Hammurabi actually wanted to protect the weak. Was Hammurabi’s code actually just? Hammurabi’s code isn’t just, in the areas of family law, property law, and personal injury law. First, is family law, one unjust example of Hammurabi’s code. Hammurabi’s code made family laws way unfair and unjust in Babylonia. Hammurabi had way different, unfair punishments than today. In law 195, “if a son strikes his father, his hands shall be cut off” (Doc C). That’s not fair, father strikes him first most of the time! He probably abuses him! He seriously not allowed
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In law 196 and 199 says “if a man has knocked out an eye of a free man, his eye shall be knocked out.” “If a man has knocked out the eye of a slave, he shall pay half of his value” (Doc E). That’s not fair, he should get the same punishment for both people. It is probably because he was weak and less worthy. I thought Hammurabi wanted to protect the weak (Doc B). In law 209 and 213, “if a man strikes a daughter of a free man and causes her to lose the fruit of her womb, he shall pay 10 shekels of silver.” “If man has struck the slave-girl of a free man and causes her to lose the fruit of the womb, he shall pay 2 shekels of silver.” (Doc E). Again, you can see that this isn’t fair. They are both humans. He should just pay the same amount for both people. These laws created are so unfair, Hammurabi said he is going to protect the weak! This shows Hammurabi isn’t
In law 196 and 199 says “if a man has knocked out an eye of a free man, his eye shall be knocked out.” “If a man has knocked out the eye of a slave, he shall pay half of his value” (Doc E). That’s not fair, he should get the same punishment for both people. It is probably because he was weak and less worthy. I thought Hammurabi wanted to protect the weak (Doc B). In law 209 and 213, “if a man strikes a daughter of a free man and causes her to lose the fruit of her womb, he shall pay 10 shekels of silver.” “If man has struck the slave-girl of a free man and causes her to lose the fruit of the womb, he shall pay 2 shekels of silver.” (Doc E). Again, you can see that this isn’t fair. They are both humans. He should just pay the same amount for both people. These laws created are so unfair, Hammurabi said he is going to protect the weak! This shows Hammurabi isn’t