The Laws of Hammurabi
Sense of insecurity in Mesopotamia around 1754 BC resulted in detailed legal codes and great philosophical literature. Throughout the early years of Mesopotamia civilization, the Codes of Hammurabi were the most famous but not the pioneer of the many collections of laws during that time. At the height of Hammurabi’s power, he codified 282 laws on a stele made of basalt (Charpin 12). During his time, fidelity, legitimacy of children, and marriage were the major issues that affected the Mesopotamian culture. Hammurabi produced a set of laws based on these specific values.
His effort was directed towards realizing a good order society and the improved welfare of his subjects. Hammurabi ensured that the language used to write the codes were a simple and average member of Babylonian society could understand the expectations placed on them. Each of the laws was written separately and with specific examples of indiscretions that were legal. The codes …show more content…
In those laws, men were trusted, over their wives, to make critical decisions about the future of their families. For example, as illustrated in law 138, the power to divorce was given to men. It was possible if he was able to pay her the dowry and her marriage price. The man was allowed to marry another woman in a situation where his wife goes to carry out business away from home, if she returns she can be kept as a servant. Men also had the authority to loan out their family to be used as servants in order to pay their debts. Women, on the other hand, had no authority to make decisions on their own. If a woman desires to divorce her husband she can not reach that decision on her own, she has to put that request for consideration by the city council. Men were regarded as the commander of the household, and it was their role to make critical decisions in all major issues (Charpin
Sense of insecurity in Mesopotamia around 1754 BC resulted in detailed legal codes and great philosophical literature. Throughout the early years of Mesopotamia civilization, the Codes of Hammurabi were the most famous but not the pioneer of the many collections of laws during that time. At the height of Hammurabi’s power, he codified 282 laws on a stele made of basalt (Charpin 12). During his time, fidelity, legitimacy of children, and marriage were the major issues that affected the Mesopotamian culture. Hammurabi produced a set of laws based on these specific values.
His effort was directed towards realizing a good order society and the improved welfare of his subjects. Hammurabi ensured that the language used to write the codes were a simple and average member of Babylonian society could understand the expectations placed on them. Each of the laws was written separately and with specific examples of indiscretions that were legal. The codes …show more content…
In those laws, men were trusted, over their wives, to make critical decisions about the future of their families. For example, as illustrated in law 138, the power to divorce was given to men. It was possible if he was able to pay her the dowry and her marriage price. The man was allowed to marry another woman in a situation where his wife goes to carry out business away from home, if she returns she can be kept as a servant. Men also had the authority to loan out their family to be used as servants in order to pay their debts. Women, on the other hand, had no authority to make decisions on their own. If a woman desires to divorce her husband she can not reach that decision on her own, she has to put that request for consideration by the city council. Men were regarded as the commander of the household, and it was their role to make critical decisions in all major issues (Charpin