Hammurabi’s Code was not the first code but, is most certainly one of the most famous codes in history. Hammurabi was far from ordinary. He was certain he was a gift from the gods and that there was no one wiser. Although, his arrogance was undeniable, his intentions were good. Hammurabi not only managed to maintain control over his empire, he expanded it and united all of Mesopotamia during his reign. The code is a covenant between a ruler and his people guaranteeing the protection, safety, and success of his people based on the “Law of Retaliation” or “an eye for an eye.” The people were divided into upper, middle, and lower classes consisting of nobles, commoners, and slaves. Men were predominant although, women did have rights.
The …show more content…
The laws were written in order by category then further subcategorized by the class of the individual. The class of the victim and the class of the offender or criminal determined the penalty or punishment. Social structure was organized by class, essentially by ones’ value or worth. Nobles make up the upper class, commoners or free people were the middle, and the lower class consisted of slaves. Prisoners of war, criminals, and debtors were sentenced to slavery. Although, slaves had little rights, they were allowed to marry nonslaves, own property, or even purchase their own freedom. The consequences of ones’ actions are based on their class or value. Line 199 states that if one man put out the eye or break the bone of another mans’ slave, he has to pay half of the slave’s value but, line 200 states if the teeth of a man were knocked out by their equal, the offenders’ teeth are simply knocked out in return and the dispute is terminated. In retrospect a subordinate can never disobey or offend their superior in any way. Line 202 states if a person of lower class strikes that of a higher class they receive corporal punishment. Ones position in society clearly outlines what they can and can not get away with and at what cost if they were to step out of
The …show more content…
The laws were written in order by category then further subcategorized by the class of the individual. The class of the victim and the class of the offender or criminal determined the penalty or punishment. Social structure was organized by class, essentially by ones’ value or worth. Nobles make up the upper class, commoners or free people were the middle, and the lower class consisted of slaves. Prisoners of war, criminals, and debtors were sentenced to slavery. Although, slaves had little rights, they were allowed to marry nonslaves, own property, or even purchase their own freedom. The consequences of ones’ actions are based on their class or value. Line 199 states that if one man put out the eye or break the bone of another mans’ slave, he has to pay half of the slave’s value but, line 200 states if the teeth of a man were knocked out by their equal, the offenders’ teeth are simply knocked out in return and the dispute is terminated. In retrospect a subordinate can never disobey or offend their superior in any way. Line 202 states if a person of lower class strikes that of a higher class they receive corporal punishment. Ones position in society clearly outlines what they can and can not get away with and at what cost if they were to step out of