TEACHING AID
Answers to the discussion questions, and a grading rubric:
Using the Code of Hammurabi, respond to the following questions.
1. Identify three laws in which the main idea relates to economics. Describe the economic
significance of each law.
LAW ECONOMIC ACTIVITY/SIGNIFICANCE
55
Indicates the prevalence of agriculture in this society, and that damage to one
person's property caused by another person's negligence (for example, flooding a
neighbor's field) must be compensated.
57
Indicates that herding and raising animals were prevalent enough to be addressed in
the Code, and that grazing arrangements with neighbors were expected or
compensation would be required.
59
Law 59 is another example of the type of economic activity that took place during the
time of Hammurabi. Orchards were a source of income, and a person who damaged
an orchard had to compensate the owner of the orchard.
2. What can you infer from the Code about the key economic interactions during this period? Use
specifics from the laws in your response.
Several answers are appropriate, as long as the student makes references to specific laws. Economic
interactions can be found in several laws that relate to agriculture and raising animals, as well as to
merchants and the economics of marriage. A student could focus on one area or a combination.
3. Locate laws that indicate that society during the time of Hammurabi was hierarchical. Note the
law number and explain how the law indicates a hierarchical society.
LAW INDICATION OF HIERARCHY
6
This law shows that the punishment for stealing goods from a Temple or Palace
carried a harsher punishment than thefts from other places. This indicates a
hierarchical society, and that religion and government held a higher place in society
than commerce or farming, for example.
17
This law (and others) indicate that slavery was prevalent to the degree that it was
addressed in the Code. The existence of slavery indicates a hierarchical society,
where slaves were certainly at the bottom of that hierarchy.
195
Clearly, fathers and sons were not equal in this society. This law states that if a son
hits his father, the son would have his hands cut off. No reciprocal law is known to
exist respecting a father's mistreatment of his son.
4. Identify three laws in which there is a relationship between punishment and social class.
LAW
PUNISHMENT-SOCIAL CLASS CONNECTION
These two laws provide different punishments for the same action. Physical harm
198/199 done to a freed man is punished with a higher fine than for physical harm done to
a slave.
If a slave strikes a freed man, the slave will have his ear cut off. The punishment
for the slave is greater than the punishment of a freed man for the same offense.
Other laws indicate that the worst that could happen to a freed man who hit a
slave is a monetary fine paid to the owner of the slave.
205
5. Identify three laws influenced by gender. Suggest how the consequences were affected by
gender.
LAW
INFLUENCE OF GENDER
142/143
These laws put the burden of proof on the wife, and there are no reciprocal laws
for husbands.
175
This law states that women alone are punished for not producing children in a
marriage.
6. Select four laws (not previously addressed) and translate them into language that could easily
be understood in today's society.
LAW TRANSLATION
127
If you make false claims, you will be punished.
7. Identify any patterns as you read the laws in the Code. What conclusions can be drawn from
these patterns?
Answers will vary, but should indicate an understanding of patterns in the Law by grouping related laws and
drawing conclusions based on the evidence. For example, a student could infer that the laws address issues
that are most common during this era. Additionally, students could include topics that repeatedly or often
surface in the Code; for example, issues related to marriage, dowry, inheritance, slaves, violence, and
agriculture.
8. Suggest problems with the Code of Hammurabi.
Answers will vary, but should address that many of the punishments could not be reversed and might be too
easily meted out. Additionally, students should discuss the difference in punishment based on social class
and gender.
9. In 8 to 10 sentences, respond to the following question:
Relate the Code of Hammurabi to today's society and hypothesize if this type of system of laws
could be effective or not effective.
Answers will vary, but should include the effectiveness of punishment as a deterrent, the role of juries,
ability to appeal court decisions, and the tolerance of discriminatory laws.
Advanced
Proficient
Progressing
Beginning
Quality of
Written
Response
Responses are
thorough and
thoughtful and
have no
grammatical
errors.
Responses are
thorough and
thoughtful but
have some
grammatical
errors.
Responses are
perfunctory, and
there are many
grammatical
errors.
Incomplete
responses with
many
grammatical
errors.
Analysis of
Document
Documents are
analyzed in an
insightful and
complex manner.
Analysis reveals
little insight.
There are no
signs of
thoughtful
analysis of
documents in
responses.
Use of
Historical
Context
Prior historical
Prior historical
Little historical
knowledge is used
knowledge is used knowledge is used
effectively to
in the analysis.
in responses.
develop analysis.
Analysis of
documents shows
some insight.
How to cite this document:
To cite this document, World Book recommends the following format:
Code of Hammurabi. World Book Advanced. Web. 22 June 2012.
No prior historical
knowledge is
used in
responses.