Name: ______________________________
The Code of Hammurabi, c.1790 BC
and The Twelve Tables, c. 450 BC
“Did humanity make progress in how it ordered society from the time of Hammurabi to the
time of the Roman Republic?”
Below are collections of laws from both the Code of Hammurabi and the Roman Twelve Tables.
For each section, begin by reviewing each Code of Hammurabi. Remember that his codes are strict,
have severe punishments, are based on retaliation, and utilize patriarchy and social structure. Then,
read a similar law from the Twelve Tables. Is it different? Does it show progress? Be sure to
explain your answer and connect the Roman law to Hammurabi’s Code to show change.
WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Hammurabi: If a man take a wife, and she be seized by disease, if he then desire to take a second wife he
shall not put away his wife, who has been attacked by disease, but he shall keep her in the house
which he has built and support her so long as she lives.
Rome:
Females should remain in guardianship even when they have attained their maturity.
Summarize the Roman law in your own words:
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Do you see progress? Why or why not? Be sure to mention both laws:
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NEIGHBORS
Hammurabi: If any one open his ditches to water his crop, but is careless, and the water flood the field of his
neighbor, then he shall pay his neighbor corn for his loss.
Rome:
Should a tree on a neighbor's farm be bent crooked by the wind and lean over your farm, you
may take legal action for removal of that tree.
Summarize the Roman law in your own words:
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Do you see progress? Why or why not? Be sure to mention both laws:
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ASSAULT
Hammurabi: If he break another man's bone, his bone shall be broken.
If during a quarrel one man strike another and wound him, then he shall swear, "I did not
injure him wittingly," and pay the physicians.
Rome:
If one has maimed a limb and does not compromise with the injured person, let there be
retaliation. If one has broken a bone of a freeman with his hand or with a cudgel, let him pay a
penalty of three hundred coins If he has broken the bone of a slave, let him have one hundred
and fifty coins. If one is guilty of insult, the penalty shall be twenty-five coins.
Summarize the Roman law in your own words:
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Do you see progress? Why or why not? Be sure to mention all three laws:
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PROPERTY DAMAGE
Hammurabi: If the herdsman overlook something, and an accident happen in the stable, then the herdsman is
at fault for the accident which he has caused in the stable, and he must compensate the owner
for the cattle or sheep.
If any one be too lazy to keep his dam in proper condition, and does not so keep it; if then the
dam break and all the fields be flooded, then shall he in whose dam the break occurred be sold
for money, and the money shall replace the corn which he has caused to be ruined.
Rome:
Any person who destroys by burning any building or heap of corn deposited alongside a house
shall be bound, scourged, and put to death by burning at the stake provided that he has
committed the said misdeed with malice aforethought; but if he shall have committed it by
accident, that is, by negligence, it is ordained that he repair the damage or, if he be too poor to
be competent for such punishment, he shall receive a lighter punishment.
Summarize the law in your own words:
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Do you see progress? Why or why not? Be sure to mention all three laws:
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ROBBERY
Hammurabi: If any one is committing a robbery and is caught, then he shall be put to death.
If any one break a hole into a house (break in to steal), he shall be put to death before that hole
and be buried.
Rome:
If the theft has been done by night, if the owner kills the thief, the thief shall be held to be
lawfully killed.
It is unlawful for a thief to be killed by day....unless he defends himself with a weapon; even
though he has come with a weapon, unless he shall use the weapon and fight back, you shall not
kill him. And even if he resists, first call out so that someone may hear and come up.
Summarize the Roman laws in your own words:
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Do you see progress? Why or why not? Be sure to mention all four laws:
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SLAVES
Hammurabi: If the slave of a freed man strike the body of a freed man, his ear shall be cut off.
Rome:
If a slave shall have committed theft or done damage with his master’s knowledge, the action
for damages is in the slave's name.
Summarize the law in your own words:
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Do you see progress? Why or why not? Be sure to mention both laws:
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