Learning Family Learns about Hammurabi's Code

Hammurabi's Code wasn't a way to send secret messages. In fact, it was just the opposite. Hammurabi wanted to get rid of corruption in the goverment of the city-state of Ur, so he wrote the laws down so everyone could read them.

This tall, black stone depicts Hammurabi receiving the law from the Sun God. Though you can't read it, the code is written below the figures.

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Amanda

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Hammurabi was a good king of Babylonia, also a diplomat and a cooperating man. He took care of his people. He wrote laws and was fair with all his people. He let them worship their own gods and goddesses.

Harrison

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Hammurabi believed in justice. He is famous for his code of laws. Although he was famous for them, Hammurabi did not invent law. Ur-Nammu made the first known code of law. Hammurbi had his 282 laws written on 8 foot-tall stelas of basalt and placed them in the temples so everyone would know them.

This picture is of Hammurabi speaking his law to the people (from the British Museum). The law is written to the right.

Susan

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Rob

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Questions & Answers

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Michelle asks: In what ways did Hammurabi's law code >promote stability and order in Mesopotamia?
It seems, though that the most important influence of Hammurabi's code was that the laws and punishments were determined before the crimes were committed, and published (on stone pillars placed throughout the land) so everyone could know. In this way, people could know that the law would be fairly applied to everyone.
Hammurabi was not the first king of the Sumerians/Babylonians, nor the first to have a code of laws. He lived in the 18th century bce (Before Current Era, or B.C.). Zargon or Gilgamesh is reported to have been the King who first brought prescribed laws to the people, in about 2700 bce, though both of these may just be mythical persons. Before then, laws were determined by how the king felt at the time. What Hammurabi really did was write it down, and make sure everyone could know the law.

Links

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Hammurabi's Code -Yale University
The complete code with the prologue and epilogue

Hammurabi's Code - Washington University
Complete code with commentary.

Hammurabi & Moses -
Brief info about Hammurabi, his code, and comparisons to the Hebrew law

Be Hammurabi in the Ancient World!
This simple online game is a bit hard to figure out, but a fun little exercise in making laws and taxes.

Resources

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Amanda	[ Guide \| Next >
Hammurabi was a good king of Babylonia, also a diplomat and a cooperating man. He took care of his people. He wrote laws and was fair with all his people. He let them worship their own gods and goddesses.

Links	[ Guide \| Next >
Hammurabi's Code -Yale University The complete code with the prologue and epilogue Hammurabi's Code - Washington University Complete code with commentary. Hammurabi & Moses - Brief info about Hammurabi, his code, and comparisons to the Hebrew law Be Hammurabi in the Ancient World! This simple online game is a bit hard to figure out, but a fun little exercise in making laws and taxes.