Code of Hammurabi: History of development of Babylonian Laws #law #history #babylon #education

The Code of Hammurabi as one of the oldest deciphered writings of significant length, a Babylonian legal text from around 1754 BCE, containing 282 laws covering family, property, criminal, and civil matters, famously known for the principle of "an eye for an eye" (lex talionis), but with punishments varying by social class, inscribed on a large stone stele discovered in ancient Mesopotamia. Origin: Created by King Hammurabi, the sixth king of the First Babylonian Dynasty, for the Babylonian Empire. Content: 282 laws addressing slander, trade, slavery, labor, theft, divorce, contracts, and family relationships. Lex Talionis: Famous for "an eye for an eye," where punishments often mirrored the crime, but scaled for social status (e.g., nobleman vs. slave). Social Structure: Established three classes (upper, middle, enslaved), influencing rights and responsibilities. Discovery: Found in 1901 by French archaeologists in Susa (modern-day Iran) and now housed in the Louvre Museum. Significance: Provided deep insight into ancient Babylonian life, justice, and legal development, influencing later legal traditions, including those in the Hebrew Bible. Examples of Laws: If a builder's house collapses and kills the owner, the builder shall be put to death. A father had significant control over his children, even the right to sell them.