Essays on Hammurabi code

Hammurabi’s Code is a collection of laws created by the Babylonian King Hammurabi in 1750 BC. It is one of the earliest written law codes and sets out a comprehensive system of punishments for crimes ranging from theft to murder. In addition to criminal law, it also included civil law pertaining to property rights, inheritance, divorce and contracts. The code was inscribed on an 8-foot black stone stele that has been found in modern Iraq.The Code of Hammurabi contains 282 laws grouped into various categories such as justice, family matters and business dealings. Many of these laws were based on earlier Sumerian traditions but adapted for Hammurabi’s era. Some examples include: If anyone ensnare another, putting a ban upon him, but he cannot prove it; if he be put to death his accuser shall be put to death (law 3), If any one bring an accusation against a man before the elders and does not prove what he has charged then he shall be put to death (law 23) and If any one take a male or female slave belonging to another person without consent then he shall pay five shekels for each slave so taken (law 13). Hammurabi’s Code was used as the basis for many subsequent legal systems including those of ancient Greece, Rome and England. Its influence can still be seen today in modern legal systems which continue to use some form of retribution or punishment as part of their justice system. Although there are some criticisms that its harshness fails to recognize human rights principles such as due process or access to counsel during trial proceedings, its importance throughout history cannot be denied.