Chapter 2 section 1 continued
Hammurabi’s Code
?????’s
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1.Why are rules/laws necessary?
2. Can societies be successful without rules?
3. Do you believe in the death penalty?
4. Would you support harsher laws in the
United States today?
What is this referring to?
Ruling a Large Empire (DNWTD)
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Invasion and conquest were common in ancient
Middle East
Time after time, nomadic people or ambitious
warriors descended on the Fertile Crescent
Powerful leaders, created powerful, well organized
empires bringing peace and prosperity to the region.
Many looted and burned, some stayed and ruled
The first Empire builder
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2300 B.C. Sargon, the ruler of Akkad, invaded
and conquered the city-states of Sumer
Built the first Empire in history (Akkadia)
Did not last long, after his death invaders come into
his empire and brought it to ruins
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Hammurabi
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In 1700 B.C. the king of Babylon, Hammurabi brought
most of Mesopotamia under his control.
Published a set of laws in order to unite Babylonian
society together known as Hammurabi’s code. (first
written law code in history)
Wanted people to know the legal principles of government
Had Artisans carve the 300 laws on a stone pillar for all to
see
Crime and Punishment
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-Hammurabi's code was the first major collection of
laws in history
"eye for an eye" and "life for a life" types of
punishments
Examples of Hammurabi’s code
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If any one is committing a robbery and is caught,
then he shall be put to death.
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.
More examples..
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If any one strike the body of a man higher in rank than he, he
shall receive sixty blows with an ox-whip in public.
Hammurabi’s code showed that there was a division
amongst classes
If the slave of a freed man strike the body of a freed man, his
ear shall be cut off.
If a man strike a free-born woman so that she lose her
unborn child, he shall pay ten shekels for her loss. If the
woman die, his daughter shall be put to death.
Laws for Women (DNWTD)
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Hammurabi's code did try to protect the powerless,
including women and slaves
Could divorce
Could own property
The code expected women to remain in their
husband's home and dependent on him
The husband had to support his wife
Father had unlimited authority over the children
Other steps taken by Hammurabi to unite
the Empire:
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Irrigation
Well trained army
Had temples repaired