Hammarabis Law Code Essay - 789 Words

Hammarabis Law Code Many people may not know it, but they have heard part of Hammurabis Law Code before. It is where the fabled eye-for-an-eye statement came from. However, this brutal way of enforcing laws was not always the case in ancient Mesopotamia, where Hammurabi ruled. The Laws of Ur-Nammu are much milder and project a greater sense of tolerance in an earlier time. The changing Mesopotamian society dictated this change to a harsher, more defined law that Hammurabi ruled from. It was the urge to solidify his power in Mesopotamia that led Hammurabi to create his Law Code. It must first be noted that the Laws of Ur-Nammu were written some time around 2100 B.C., around three hundred years before Hammurabis Code.†¦show more content†¦One law stated that if someone severed the nose of another man with a copper knife, he must pay two-thirds of a mina of silver. Another contains that if a man proceeded by force, and deflowered the virgin slave-woman of another man, that man must pay five shekels of silver. According to these laws, the crimes of assault and rape were reduced to payment for injury. Hammurabis Code was not nearly as forgiving. While The Laws of Ur-Nammu doled out fines as penalties, Hammurabis Code delivered death for many crimes. Hammurabi also has a much different view concerning the treatment of rape: If a man violate the wife of another man...and sleep with her and be surprised, this man shall be put to death, but the wife is blameless. Also, assault was no longer punishable by just a fine: If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out. Death was a sentence for false accusations, theft and robbery, bad construction, kidnapping, as well as many other offenses. By the time of Hammurabis rule, Mesopotamia had formed its own identity. While it remained a land where most any person could be accepted, the time for regulating the territory had come. These laws were just one part of an effort to create an organized nation-state by Hammurabi. After conquering various city-states to secure his rule, he created a new power center in Babylon to keep the supporters of previous power centers atShow MoreRelated Justinian I Essay1453 Words   |  6 PagesJustinian had a very significant role in world history. There are many things that are overlooked when speaking of Justinian. For instance, Justinian was a great architect. Many times we overlook the little characteristics of Justinian and we focus on the code of Justinian. Justinian was born a barbarian, probably born of Slavic parents in Illyia. We know nothing of his early years except that his uncle adopted him. His uncle was Justin I, the emperor of Constantinople. Then in 527 A.D., Justin made Justinian