The Code of Hammurabi was an Ancient Babylonian uniform code of written laws enacted by King Hammurabi. It was written around 1754 B.C.E., and is one of the oldest intact forms of written law (Johns, 2008). It has 282 laws detailing a great deal about life back then, although 33 of these laws are missing today. The Code also includes extremely detailed punishments for breaking each law (Hammurabi, 1754 B.C.E.). It is written on a strong rock called diorite and is in the form of a “stele” which is a slab of stone with writing or drawing on it. (Dembiczak, 2015). The Code of Hammurabi is extremely specific and is an important source of information about many aspects of life in the time period it was written. It includes laws about marriage,
…show more content…
Laws 128 through 195 are all related to marriage and children or family matters. Each marriage was considered a “contract” between the husband and wife. The Code was so detailed as to even tell exactly how much (if any) of the wedding gifts were to be returned upon divorce, separation, or death. Women were considered free citizens of Babylon and in the case of a divorce could keep custody of the children and hold property of their own (Hammurabi). Hammurabi’s Code also includes more than thirty-five laws about land ownership and renting land out such as Hammurabi’s 55th rule, “ If anyone open his ditches to water his crop, but is careless, and the water flood the field of his neighbor, then he shall pay his neighbor corn for his loss.” Each law is just as specific and typically gives an exact punishment for breaking said law (Hammurabi). Amelu were usually the land owners, and they rented land to Muskinu or had Ardu work their fields for them …show more content…
Laws 196 and 200 are the original source the famous “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” reference. Most of the criminal laws follow the same pattern; whatever you do to another man will be done to you. One example of an exception was that when it comes to robbery, the punishment was death (Hammurabi). These kinds of punishments always occurred after a trial in court where the accused was found guilty. The courts had a judge, or for bigger cases multiple judges, and witnesses were allowed. On some occasions, men were allowed to “swear” that they did not commit a crime to be pardoned
Laws 128 through 195 are all related to marriage and children or family matters. Each marriage was considered a “contract” between the husband and wife. The Code was so detailed as to even tell exactly how much (if any) of the wedding gifts were to be returned upon divorce, separation, or death. Women were considered free citizens of Babylon and in the case of a divorce could keep custody of the children and hold property of their own (Hammurabi). Hammurabi’s Code also includes more than thirty-five laws about land ownership and renting land out such as Hammurabi’s 55th rule, “ If anyone open his ditches to water his crop, but is careless, and the water flood the field of his neighbor, then he shall pay his neighbor corn for his loss.” Each law is just as specific and typically gives an exact punishment for breaking said law (Hammurabi). Amelu were usually the land owners, and they rented land to Muskinu or had Ardu work their fields for them …show more content…
Laws 196 and 200 are the original source the famous “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” reference. Most of the criminal laws follow the same pattern; whatever you do to another man will be done to you. One example of an exception was that when it comes to robbery, the punishment was death (Hammurabi). These kinds of punishments always occurred after a trial in court where the accused was found guilty. The courts had a judge, or for bigger cases multiple judges, and witnesses were allowed. On some occasions, men were allowed to “swear” that they did not commit a crime to be pardoned