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Big Idea

Hammurabi maintains law and order.

Essential Question

What was Hammurabi's Code of Law?

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Words To Know

Hammurabi’s Code of Law – the first law code created by Hammurabi.

Golden Age – a period of great cultural achievement (art, math, literature (writing) science/medicine).

Let’s Set The Stage…

The Babylonian Empire was located in the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia. Babylon’s most powerful ruler, Hammurabi, is best known for his set of laws called the Code of Hammurabi. This was the first major collection of laws in history. Although these laws favored higher classes (rich) over lower ones (poor), they established standards of justice for all classes. Punishment was harsh, believing in the idea of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

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Mesopotamia was made up of city-states with different Kings.Hammurabi conquered all of Mesopotamia and united the entire region under his rule.

Hammurabi

Hammurabi’s reign marked a period when trade flourished and the economy was strong.He sponsored architectural works throughout Mesopotamia, such as canals and temples.

Golden Age

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Hammurabi ordered major works of Mesopotamian literature to be written.He also put together a famous code of laws.

The Code of Hammurabi was one of the first written law codes. It was written on a stele, or a large stone monument and placed in a public place so that all could see it.

Hammurabi’s Code of Law

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A carving at the top of the stele (a piece of stone) shows King Hammurabi receiving the laws from the god Shamash. The inscription states that King Hammurabi was chosen by the gods of his people to bring the laws to them.

The Code of Hammurabi contained 282 laws. These laws were written by scribes on 12 tablets. The Code consists of rules and the punishments for if those rules were broken.

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The Code of Hammurabi had very harsh punishments if a law was broken.Hammurabi’s believed in “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”The wealthy would also not be punished as harshly as the poor.

“If a man knocks out a tooth of a man of his own rank, they shall knock out his tooth.If he knocks out a tooth of a common man, he shall pay one mina of silver.If a man strikes his father, they shall cut off his hand.”

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The code permits women to own property and engage in business. However, it expected a woman to remain in her husband's home and be dependent on him. A husband, however, had a legal duty to support his wife. The code also gave a father nearly unlimited authority over his children.

Women and Family

What decided one’s guilt or innocence was something called the Ordeal. During the Ordeal, the accused person was sentenced to perform a certain task such as being thrown into a river or swimming a certain distance across a river and, if they succeeded, they were innocent. If they did not survive the ordeal, they were considered guilty.

Innocent or Guilty

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Hammurabi’s Law Codes was the example for future law codes around the world.

Essential Question AnsweredWhat was Hammurabi's Code of Law?

The Code of Hammurabi was one of the first written law codes. It was written on a stele, or a large stone monument and placed in a public place so that all could see it.

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The Code of Hammurabi contained 282 laws. These laws were written by scribes on 12 tablets. The Code consists of rules and the punishments for if those rules were broken.

Essential Question AnsweredWhat was Hammurabi's Code of Law?

The Code of Hammurabi followed the idea of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”

Hammurabi’s Law Codes was the example for future law codes around the world.

Essential Question AnsweredWhat was Hammurabi's Code of Law?