Difference between revisions of "16. The function of written law in ancient Babylon?"
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| − | In ancient Babylon, written law functioned as a set of rules to live by and decided punishments for crimes. Hammurabi's Code, a collection of 282 laws inscribed on a stone pillar, marks the earliest-known example of a ruler proclaiming publicly to his people an entire body of laws, arranged in orderly groups. The code regulates the organization of society. Sumerian law, as represented in Hammurabi's code, was a law of exact revenge, called lex talionis. The saying "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" stems from this. Sumerian law recognized class distinctions; | + | In ancient Babylon, written law functioned as a set of rules to live by and decided punishments for crimes. Hammurabi's Code, a collection of 282 laws inscribed on a stone pillar, marks the earliest-known example of a ruler proclaiming publicly to his people an entire body of laws, arranged in orderly groups. The code regulates the organization of society. Sumerian law, as represented in Hammurabi's code, was a law of exact revenge, called lex talionis. The saying "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" stems from this. Sumerian law recognized class distinctions; everyone was not equal under Sumerian law. The Old Babylonians, or Amorites, allowed the state to more actively pursue and punish criminals. These punishments became much harsher: the death penalty was applied to many more crimes. |
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Revision as of 12:56, 3 February 2016
Back to '''History 8 Mesopotamia Questions''
In ancient Babylon, written law functioned as a set of rules to live by and decided punishments for crimes. Hammurabi's Code, a collection of 282 laws inscribed on a stone pillar, marks the earliest-known example of a ruler proclaiming publicly to his people an entire body of laws, arranged in orderly groups. The code regulates the organization of society. Sumerian law, as represented in Hammurabi's code, was a law of exact revenge, called lex talionis. The saying "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" stems from this. Sumerian law recognized class distinctions; everyone was not equal under Sumerian law. The Old Babylonians, or Amorites, allowed the state to more actively pursue and punish criminals. These punishments became much harsher: the death penalty was applied to many more crimes.
http://hammurabiscode2014.weebly.com/bibliography.html
Sources
Manual pg 90
http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/hamcode.asp
http://www2.sjs.org/beniretto/Mesopotamia/textcomputerexercise.html#Sumerians
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Calista Smith
