Social Inequality In Hammurabi

The next part of this paper will examine the social hierarchical biases of the code. As if having clearly defined social boundaries and classifications was not enough, the code of Hammurabi even had social classifications of consequences. Depending on which social body a person belonged to, the severity of consequences for various issues would be different. Because the Amelu stood at the apex of the social hierarchy, and were given the grandest responsibilities, they were subject to “heavier punishments for crimes and misdemeanours, higher fees and fines to pay.”(Johns) An example of the social stratification of consequences can be found various laws throughout the code. The underlying concept for many of the laws is “lex talionis,” which …show more content…
The accentuation on equal punishments reveals that people within in the same class were treated as equals. However, Babylonia was still a society of social inequality. It is clear that these rules are clearly favored people higher in the social pyramid and therefore supported an uneven balance of power. Although this is not the acceptable status quo in today’s society, it seemed to be accepted and was not bothersome to the citizens of Babylonia under Hammurabi’s rule.
More than create and emphasize class distinctions, the code of Hammurabi also discusses and appropriates the subject of gender roles. Inequality did not just exist between social classes but also between men and women. Men held the dominant roles. This is very apparent when analyzing the restrictions placed on women with regard to the consumption of alcohol, marriage, and …show more content…
Furthermore, the code specifies that if a woman were to sell alcohol without direct and special permission from authorities, death would be the consequence. Woman wine sellers also had to report the specific occurrences in which a man would complete a transaction at their house otherwise they would be put to death. Even worse, if a nun were to be caught in the act of consuming or selling alcohol, she would be specifically punished by being burnt to death (King). Although the restriction of alcohol consumption for holy characters may seem socially optimal and even necessary, it is clear that the code is unfairly biased towards men. The restrictions that were placed on the rights of women to enjoy truly adventurous lives was exclusive and only applied to women, as men could enjoy a sense of freedom that women never could. Furthermore, the code examines the circumstances under which women could be married or divorced. It is in these marriage laws that gender inequality is most noticeable. The strict consequences that are defined emphasize the role of women as merely property owned by men. The 117th law states that if a man were to default on his debts, the lender could take a wife or child for three years to work off the