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13 views

Topic 2 Discussion 1

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alexamavica
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The Hammurabi Code ALWAYS provokes lots of discussion amongst

my students. Besides discussing WHAT is says, and it's emphasis on


retribution, let’s put on our HSI (Historical Scene Investigator)
thinking caps and ask ourselves WHY it is so constructed. Laws and
other codes are enormously revealing about cultures.

The Hammurabi Code was written by the ruler of Babylonia from 1792-1750 BC named
Hammurabi. This code which was discovered in 1902 is one of the oldest forms of law ever
written and emphasizes the idea of retribution as seen in one example of a law written in this
code that states, ‘if a man has accused another of laying a nertu (death spell) upon him, but has
not proved it, he shall be put to death’. This code which enacted strict and harsh laws for the
members of the Babylonian society and replaced all previous codes creates a great sense of
ambiguity for recent historians and individuals and allows for much deeper analysis as to why
such intense laws needed to be put into effect in this society.
When reading through the Hammurabi Code I found that although these laws were strict
and in some sense irrational in the types of punishments received for certain actions, they
represent laws and standards that somewhat align with the modern laws we have in place today.
While I believe the standards and laws we have in place today are much more developed and fair
compared to the Hammurabi Code when we look at the true purpose for why this code was
developed and why we have laws today the idea remains the same; to maintain order in society.
Imagine life with no rules, no laws, no standards. There would be no punishment for wrongful
actions, no basis for what is even considered right or wrong, and no way to control a society full
of thousands or in our modern world billions of people which ultimately promotes a society
filled with chaos, crime, and violence. Since the Hammurabi Code was just the first of many
codes and laws put into place to control society and set ethical standards it dealt with a society
filled with much more chaos which explains why the punishment was so harsh because it needed
individuals to not only accept the code but comply with it as well. Overall, the Hammurabi Code
helps to reveal to social structure of this time and allows us to understand why it was constructed
the way it was.

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