Code of Hammurabi

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Humanities 1 Literature Review 1 In Chapter One, page 27, the text tells us about the Code of Hammurabi. The Code of Hammurabi is a well-preserved Babylonian law code, dating back to about 1772 B.C. The sixth Babylonian king, Hammurabi, enacted the code. Hammurabi, who feared the chief god of Babylon, was called upon to establish rule in the land. . The Code consisted of 282 laws with scaled punishment depending on social status. It deals with things from household and family relationships to military services. It covers a large spectrum of moral, social, and commercial obligations. This code is the most valuable index to life in ancient Mesopotamia. It also is very important to us now because it provides us with information regarding Babylonian culture and social relations. One nearly complete example of the Code survives today, on a diorite stele in the shape of a huge index finger. The Code of Hammurabi interests me for the simple fact that it shows how much times have changed over time. Today, we imprison people for their wrongful actions that have to be looked over through court hearings rather than give them the same punishment and torture them. To me, these clauses are full of humiliation. For example, cut a boys hand off striking his father? Why? So that the whole world will know what he did during his moment of anger or whatever the case may be? They don’t get both sides of the story before judging who should receive what

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