Hammurabi
Essential Question: Who is Hammurabi and
how did he impact civilization?
King of Babylon from
1792-1750 B.C.
Babylon=North of Sumer on Euphrates R.
Babylon=center of trade, then empire when
Hammurabi conquered other cities
Hammurabi build city walls, temples,
irrigation, planned city streets
Hammurabi created a code of law
-1st known written
code of laws
-Contained 282 laws
-Collected laws from
many city-states and
put together into 1
code
-1st step toward a
justice system
1. What should happen to a boy
who slaps his father?
1. What should happen to a boy
who slaps his father?
Cut off the boy’s hand
2. How is the truth
determined when one man
brings an accusation against
another?
2. How is the truth
determined when one man
brings an accusation against
another?
The accused must go and leap into the
river. If he sinks, the accuser shall take
possession of his house. If he floats, the
accuser is put to death and the accused
gets to keep the accuser’s house.
3. What should be done when a
“sister of god” (nun) enters the
wine shop for a drink?
3. What should be done when a
“sister of god” (nun) enters the
wine shop for a drink?
Burn the nun
4. What should be done if a son
is adopted and then the birth
parents want him back?
4. What should be done if a son
is adopted and then the birth
parents want him back?
Birth parents can’t reclaim the
son.
5. What happens to the merchant
who fails to arrest bad characters
gathered at her shop?
5. What happens to the merchant
who fails to arrest bad characters
gathered at her shop?
Merchant is put to death
6. What happens if a man is
unable to pay his debts?
6. What happens if a man is
unable to pay his debts?
Sell the man’s wife and children
to pay debts. They shall work 3
years in the house of the person
who bought them.
7. What should be done to the
carpenter who builds a house
that falls and kills the owner?
7. What should be done to the
carpenter who builds a house
that falls and kills the owner?
Carpenter shall be put to death.
8. What should be done about a
wife who ignores her duties and
belittles her husband?
8. What should be done about a
wife who ignores her duties and
belittles her husband?
Throw the women into the water.
If she dies then the husband can
marry another. If she lives then
she returns to the house of her
husband.
Code is based on the “eye for an
eye” system of justice.
They were different punishments
based on social class. Wealthy often
just had to pay fines. Slaves usually
were killed.
Reflection:
1. Do you think Hammurabi’s
laws were fair and just? Why or
why not?
2. Do you think our laws today
are fair and just? Why or why
not?