Hammurabi ruled the Babylonian Empire from 1792 – 1750 BC.

His empire was made up of many diverse cultures.

He wanted to unify the various groups and understood that one universal set of laws would help him achieve that goal.

He sent officials to gather, review and edit the existing laws found throughout his kingdom.

The result was Hammurabi’s Code

Hammurabi’s Code: An Eye for an Eye

Hammurabi’s Code - 282 laws inscribed on a stone pillar

1st major collection of written laws

Criminal laws based on “eye for an eye”

The punishment should fit the crime.

Provided for social order

Civil laws provided guidelines for private rights and matters such as family issues & business contracts.

Most were designed to protect the powerless.

Compared to Modern Legal Systems

Penalties seem harsh by today’s standards.

The accuser had to drag the accused to court themselves.

Many laws called for the accused to jump in the river to allow the gods to determine their guilt or innocence.

The laws did not treat everyone equally; they recognized class differences.

Excerpts from Hammurabi’s Code

If any one is committing a robbery and is caught, then he shall be put to death.

If a son strike his father, his hands shall be hewn off.

If a man knock out the teeth of his equal, his teeth shall be knocked out.

If a man strike a free-born woman so that she lose her unborn child, he shall pay ten shekels for her loss.

If a man has destroyed the eye of a man of the gentleman class, they shall destroy his eye .... If he has destroyed the eye of a commoner ... he shall pay one mina of silver. If he has destroyed the eye of a gentleman's slave ... he shall pay half the slave's price.