Hammurabi’s
Code
of
Laws
Hammurabi’s
Code
of
Laws
• One of the first written codes of
laws
• Established during the reign of
the Babylonian king,
Hammurabi between 1792 –
1750 B.C. (or B.C.E.)
Hammurabi’s
Code
of
Laws
• Established so that "the strong
shall not injure the weak, and
the orphan and the widow shall
receive justice."
• Replaced systems where
revenge was a family matter or
kings decided matters as they
wished
Hammurabi’s Code
“Hammurabi,
the king of
righteousness,
on whom Shamash
has conferred the
law,
am I.”
Hammurabi’s Code
“Hammurabi,
the king of
righteousness,
on whom Shamash
has conferred the
law,
am I.”
Hammurabi’s Code
“When Marduk*
sent me to rule over men,
to give the protection of right to the land,
I did right and in righteousness brought
about the well-being of the oppressed.
Hammurabi had his Code of
laws written down in
Cuneiform.
Hammurabi’s
Code
Time for you to think and
respond!
Hammurabi’s Code
What do you think Shamash would
have wanted Hammurabi to do?
Q #1:
What should be done if a son is
adopted and then the birthparents want him back?
Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi’s Code #185:
“If a man takes in his own home
a young boy as a son and rears
him, one may not bring claim
for that adopted son.”
Hammurabi’s Code
What do you think Shamash would
have wanted Hammurabi to do?
Q #2:
What should happen to a boy
who slaps his father?
Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi’s Code #195:
“If a son strike his father, his
hands shall be hewn [cut] off.”
Hammurabi’s Code
What do you think Shamash would
have wanted Hammurabi to do?
Q #3:
What happens if a man is unable
to pay his debts?
Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi’s Code # 178:
“If a man be in debt and is unable to
pay his creditors,
he shall sell his wife, son, or daughter,
or bind them over to service.
For three years they shall work in the
houses of their purchaser or master;
in the fourth year they shall be given
their freedom.
Hammurabi’s Code
What do you think Shamash would
have wanted Hammurabi to do?
Q #4:
How is the truth determined
when one man brings an
accusation against another?
Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi’s Code #2:
“If any one bring an accusation against
a man,
and the accused go to the river and
leap into the river,
if he sink in the river his accuser shall
take possession of his house…
Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi’s Code #2:
… But if the river prove that the
accused is not guilty, and he escape
unhurt,
then he who had brought the
accusation shall be put to death,
while he who leaped into the river
shall take possession of the house that
had belonged to his accuser.”
Hammurabi’s Code
What do you think Shamash would
have wanted Hammurabi to do?
Q #5:
What should be done to the
carpenter who builds a house
that falls and kills the owner?
Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi’s Code #229:
“If a builder build a house for some
one,
and does not construct it properly,
and the house which he built fall in
and kill its owner,
then that builder shall be put to
death.
Hammurabi’s Code
What do you think Shamash would
have wanted Hammurabi to do?
Q #6:
What should be done if the
house falls on and kills the
owner’s slave?
Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi’s Code #231:
“If it kill a slave of the owner,
then he shall pay slave for slave to
the owner of the house.
Hammurabi’s Code
What do you think Shamash would
have wanted Hammurabi to do?
Q #7:
What should be done if the
house falls on and kills the
owner’s son?
Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi’s Code #230:
“If it kill the son of the owner
the son of that builder shall be put
to death.”
Hammurabi’s Code
What do you think Shamash would
have wanted Hammurabi to do?
Q #8:
What should be done if
someone comes to someone’s
house that is on fire and steals
from it?
Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi’s Code #25:
“If fire break out in a house,
and some one who comes to put it out
cast his eye upon the property of the
owner of the house,
and take the property of the master of
the house,
he shall be thrown into that self-same
fire. .”
Hammurabi’s Code
What do you think Shamash would
have wanted Hammurabi to do?
Q #9:
What should be done if a man
puts out the eye of another
man?
Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi’s Code #196:
“If a man put out the eye of
another man,
his eye shall be put out. ”
Hammurabi’s Code
What do you think Shamash would
have wanted Hammurabi to do?
Q #10:
What should be done if a man
puts out the eye of a former
slave?
Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi’s Code #198:
“If he put out the eye of a freed
man [former slave], …
he shall pay one gold mina. ”
Hammurabi’s Code
What do you think Shamash would
have wanted Hammurabi to do?
Q #11:
What should be done if a man
puts out the eye of a slave?
Hammurabi’s Code
Hammurabi’s Code #199:
“If he put out the eye of a man's
slave, …
he shall pay one-half of its
value. ”
Hammurabi’s Code
How did you do?
Would you have made a good
Babylonian God or King?
Hammurabi’s Code
There is a saying today that
stems from this sort of justice.
What would that be?
Hammurabi’s Code
“An eye for an eye
and
a tooth for a tooth.”
* Laws for loss of a tooth are similar to those concerning loss of an eye.
Hammurabi’s Code
Some questions for you to ponder.
1. List ways in which
Hammurabi’s code is similar to
our own laws.
Hammurabi’s Code
Some questions for you to ponder.
Similarities
1.
2.
3.
…
…
…
Hammurabi’s Code
Some questions for you to ponder.
1. List ways in which
Hammurabi’s code is similar to
our own laws.
2. List ways in which
Hammurabi’s code is different
from our own laws.
Hammurabi’s Code
Some questions for you to ponder.
Similarities
1.
2.
3.
…
…
…
Differences
1.
2.
3.
…
…
…
Hammurabi’s Code
Now, using Yes, MAAM, write a
short essay of at least two
paragraphs comparing and
contrasting Hammurabi’s Code to
our laws today.