Hammurabi was king of Babylon, a small city state in central Mesopotamia
After he conquered Mesopotamia, he made Babylon the capital of his empire and called it Babylonia
Hammurabi wrote his code of laws from 1792 to 1750 B.C.E.
Some important aspects of Hammurabi's Code are:
After he conquered Mesopotamia, he made Babylon the capital of his empire and called it Babylonia
Hammurabi wrote his code of laws from 1792 to 1750 B.C.E.
Some important aspects of Hammurabi's Code are:
- Used the laws to unify Babylonia
- Laws were based on the authority of the gods
- Hammurabi said the gods told him to create laws that apply to EVERYONE
- Since these laws were the word of the gods, they could NEVER BE CHANGED
Was Hamurabi's Code fair?
- Hammurabi's code was the first code of laws to apply to everyone
- They were used to create order and serve justice
- The punishments were often violent (eye for an eye concept)
- Did not treat all people equally in terms of laws and punishments
Do you know Hammurabi's code? Click this link to test your understanding !
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