O Code of Hammurabi it was the first law code in history and was in force in Mesopotamia, when Hammurabi ruled the first Babylonian empire, between 1792 and 1750 BC. Ç. this code was based on the Law of Talion, which punished a criminal in a similar way to the crime committed, that is, “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”. The Code of Hammurabi consisted of 281 precepts engraved in a black cylindrical stone of diorite. Currently, this stone is on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris (France).
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Origin and history of the Code of Hammurabi
THE Mesopotamia it is a region cut by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Through its territory they passed and dominated several peoples. The Amorites were one of the peoples who inhabited the region and installed an empire. From 2000 to 1750 BC Ç., the Amorites built the first Babylonian empire.
The city of Babylon became the most important and center of Amorite power in Mesopotamia. Laws were passed down from generation to generation, orally. With the dominance of the Amorites and the diversity of peoples that crossed Mesopotamia, it was
necessary to create a code of laws that would order social relations in the Babylonian empire.The Code of Hammurabi was created to meet this need. King Hammurabi began to write it in 1772 BC. C., in a stone, by means of the cuneiform writing.
![The Code of Hammurabi was the first set of laws in our history, and it aimed to order the social relations of the Babylonian empire. [1]](/f/45b6fcd1d41071649552b53192af48b5.jpg)
Characteristics of the Code of Hammurabi
In all, the Code of Hammurabi was composed of 281 laws, written in cuneiform, in a dark colored diorite stone. Hammurabi developed this set of laws to unify the Babylonian kingdom, in view of the large number of peoples who were part of it, and to regulate the customary practices of the Babylonians.
Punishments occurred for those who did not follow the rules pre-established. Currently, the stone containing the laws of the Code of Hammurabi is in the Louvre Museum in Paris. In 1901, a French expedition led by Jacques de Morgan found her in the city of Susa, what is now Iran. The writing of the code was translated by the abbot Jean Vincent Scheil.
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Principles of the Code of Hammurabi
The Code of Hammurabi was based on the Law of Talion, also known by the expression "an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth". This legal code determined that the punishment would be proportional to the crime committed. Written sentences related to marriage, slavery, work, and commercial agreements. Mesopotamian society was divided into Social classes: free men, noblemen and slaves. For each social class, the Code of Hammurabi determined a type of punishment.
Laws of the Code of Hammurabi
Some excerpts from the Code of Hammurabi:
1. If someone deceives someone else by defaming this person, and that other person cannot prove it, then the one who deceived must be sentenced to death.
2. If someone makes an accusation against someone else, and the accused goes to the river and jumps into this river, if he sinks, his accuser must take possession of the culprit's house, and if he escapes unharmed, the accused shall not be guilty, and then the one who made the accusation must be sentenced to death, while the one who jumped into the river must take possession of the house that belonged to his accuser.
3. If someone brings an indictment of a crime in front of the elders, and that someone does not bring evidence, if it is capital punishment, that someone should be sentenced to death.
Importance of the Code of Hammurabi
The importance of the Code of Hammurabi was the implementation of a legal code that would order social relations among the inhabitants of the first Babylonian empire. Thus, the code replaced the oral tradition, which taught the laws from generation to generation. By establishing the punishment for a criminal in a similar way to the crime committed, a reduction in criminal practices was expected.
See too: Assyrians vs. Babylonians – conflict to achieve Fertile Crescent hegemony
Who was Hammurabi?
Hammurabi went king of the Babylonians in the 18th century a. Ç. He founded the first Babylonian empire by expanding Babylon's rule to almost the entire territory of Mesopotamia. In addition to territorial conquests, Hammurabi he distinguished himself by drawing up a code of laws that came into force in his domains, with the aim of establishing rules and punishments, guaranteeing order in social relations. After his death, in 1750 BC. a., Hammurabi was succeeded by Samsiluna.
![Sculpture depicting the face of Hammurabi, founder of the first Babylonian empire. [2]](/f/f82556cc1774604b728e34ac701d1d48.jpg)
Summary of the Code of Hammurabi
It was written to discipline social relations among the inhabitants of the first Babylonian empire.
It was based on the Law of Talion, that is, “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”.
It was one of the first legal sets in history.
It was written in cuneiform, on a stone, and is in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
solved exercises
Question 1 - Check the alternative that correctly shows the importance of the Code of Hammurabi for the inhabitants of the first Babylonian empire:
A) established democracy in Babylon.
B) unified the empire around the code of law.
C) established the Mosaic law among the Babylonians.
D) restored the ancient tradition of orally transmitted laws.
Resolution
Alternative B. Hammurabi created the code of laws to unify the Babylonian empire around its legal set in order to order social relations in its domains. It was also a way of regulating the customs of the Babylonians.
Question 2 - The Code of Hammurabi was one of the first legal sets in our history and was based on another law. What law was that?
A) Law of the Ten Commandments
B) Law of the Just
C) Law of Talion
D) Marco Aurélio's Law
Resolution
Alternative C. The Law of Talion was the basis for the elaboration of the Code of Hammurabi. This law was based on the punishment being proportional to the crime committed and had as its motto: “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”.
Image credits
[1] Thomas Guardia / commons
[2] Serge Ottaviani / commons
By Carlos César Higa
History teacher
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