King Hammurabi Speech Analysis

From the beginning of civilization, power and leadership have played an important role in guiding and uniting populations of people. This power can be used or exerted in various ways by the leadership of the population to either expand one’s territory or even to make laws. The difference and similarities between the ancient forms of power and leadership are dependent on each civilization’s governing style and code of laws.
Dating back to one of the first written legal codes, during the time of the Babylonians, King Hammurabi set forward to untie the population of Babylon as well as recently conquered land by establishing 282 laws to abide by. On the stone, which these rules were inscribed, depicts the King receiving these rules from the Babylonian god of justice. The King expresses how powerful he is by being in the position of dictating the rules set out by god. These rules therefore enforced a code of justice, as intended by the gods themselves. The main theme within these codes, is taking responsibility for ones actions, and acting accordingly to retribute such a …show more content…
The purpose of this speech is to greatly honor and praise those who died in fighting for the greater Athens, therefore glorifying the dead and the city itself. This speech serves to unite Athenians, to live and advance their nation as did those who died. This can be compared to Hammurabi trying to untie the Babylonians for the greater good of the nation. This speech also talks about the greatness of the democracy. This type of government differs from the Babylonians, in which the Athenians are considered equal and free, and not set apart by social class. In contrast, Athenian males were all considered equal, and allowed to participate in court systems. The inclusion of all men, or the freedom of Athens allowed it to become a very wealthy, intellectual, and political