Hammurabi Unites an Empire with Laws
Hammurabi Unites an Empire with Laws is a Grade 6 history topic from History Alive! The Ancient World examining how the Babylonian king Hammurabi used a comprehensive written law code to unify a diverse empire around 1792-1750 B.C.E. After conquering the Mesopotamian city-states, Hammurabi needed a way to govern peoples with different local customs. He created one of history's first comprehensive written law codes, the Code of Hammurabi, which covered commercial transactions, family law, property rights, and criminal punishments. The code was inscribed on tall stone pillars called stelae and displayed publicly so everyone could see the laws. The Code's principle of standardized punishments, though harsh and unequal by modern standards, represents an early attempt at creating a rule of law.
Key Concepts
After the Akkadian Empire fell, King Hammurabi of Babylon conquered Mesopotamia around 1792 B.C.E. He wanted to unite the different peoples in his new Babylonian Empire. To do this, he needed a single, clear set of rules for everyone to follow.
Hammurabi created a famous code of laws with 282 specific rules. These laws were carved onto stone pillars and placed in public squares. They covered many aspects of life, including family matters, trade, and crime.
Common Questions
Who was Hammurabi?
Hammurabi was the sixth king of the First Babylonian Dynasty, ruling Babylon approximately 1792-1750 B.C.E. He conquered and unified Mesopotamia and is most famous for creating the Code of Hammurabi, one of history's earliest and most complete written law codes.
What was the Code of Hammurabi?
The Code of Hammurabi was a collection of 282 laws governing ancient Babylonian society, inscribed on a large stone stele around 1754 B.C.E. It covered trade, property, family law, wages, and criminal punishments. The most famous principle is lex talionis: an eye for an eye.
What does an eye for an eye mean in Hammurabi's Code?
An eye for an eye (lex talionis) was a principle of proportional punishment in Hammurabi's Code: the punishment should match the crime. If someone blinded another person, they would be blinded in return. While it seems harsh today, this principle actually limited excessive revenge by setting a maximum punishment equal to the harm done.
Why did Hammurabi create a written law code?
Hammurabi created a written law code to unify the diverse peoples of his new empire under a single set of rules. Written laws prevented judges from making arbitrary decisions and allowed people across the empire to know what was expected and what punishments applied to different offenses.
Were Hammurabi's laws applied equally to everyone?
No. Hammurabi's Code applied different punishments based on social class. A free person who harmed another free person received equal punishment. But harming a slave or enslaved person carried lighter penalties, and the upper class received different treatment than commoners for the same offense.
When do 6th graders study Hammurabi's Code?
Sixth graders study Hammurabi's Code as part of the ancient Mesopotamia unit in History Alive! The Ancient World, examining how written laws helped govern complex societies and represented an important step in the development of legal systems.
Where is the Code of Hammurabi today?
The original Code of Hammurabi stele, a 7.5-foot basalt pillar inscribed with cuneiform text, was discovered in 1901 in Susa (modern Iran). It is now displayed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, where it remains one of the museum's most viewed ancient artifacts.