Hammurabi's Code

Hammurabi's Code

Hammurabi was the ruler who led in establishing Babylon. He was the sixth king of the first Amorite dynasty. He united all of Mesopotamia during his 43 year reign. Hammurabi did many great things but the one thing he is mostly known for is his code of laws. The code was carved upon a black stone monument, eight feet high, and clearly intended to be in public view. It begins and ends with addresses to the gods. Even a law code was in those days regarded as a subject for prayer. The code then regulates in clear and definite strokes the organization of society. Hammurabi's code was not really the earliest, but it was an example of and entire body of laws, separated into groups so men could know what was expected of them. The first law code dates back four years earlier. Hammurabi's code exhibit's the principle of retribution, such as if a builder built a house badly and it killed the owner, the builder would be slain. It was believed that the Euphrates River would act as judge of people accused of various crimes. If, when thrown into the river, the accused floated, she was considered innocent; but if she sank, the river had found her guilty. Hammurabi's law code consists of two hundred-eighty two laws concerning a wide variety of abuses. Hammurabi claims to have acted "like a real father to his people." Many of his laws were punished by death. The punishments were very severe depending on the social class of a person. Officials were supposed to be able to capture criminals and be sure to enforce the law. If someone's property was lost or stolen, the official was required to replace it. Marriage and the family were a main focus of Hammurabi's law code. No one was considered legally married without a contract. Not only were the laws separated by social class, but also by gender. The men played a dominant role in society. Women were supposed to stay at home and bear children. Men had grounds to divorce their wives if they could not bear children or left home to engage in business. If a woman was unfaithful to her husband she could be drowned. Fathers were basically in charge of every person in the home. One law states, "If a son strikes his father, his hand shall be cut off." The laws also had many laws devoted towards slaves. Slaves were considered property so owners could beat them as long as the slaves could stand up