Hammurabi and His Code Hammurabi Thesis

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One of the largest sections of Hammurabi's Code focuses on the family and the best ways that a family can protect and maintain itself. Another large section of the code deals with commerce and from this, the code looks into such issues as debt, interest, and default. What we learn from these sections is that the Babylonian society was one that was somewhat sophisticated and it attempted to deal with issues that improved the quality of life. A healthy commerce is also something that the Babylonians were interested in and they worked on this through specific codes dealing with means of exchange. This code illustrates the sophisticated ways in which people were able to look at life and business. These examples also demonstrate the government's need to be a part of and offer control of every aspect of life. In a sense, the code is much like the Ten Commandments because it offers advice on not just how to live but how to live a good life.

The Babylonian society was one that was built upon a caste system. In many ways, this might seem backwards and archaic to our modern society. For example, men were free to divorce their wives if they could not conceive. Men were also allowed to divorce if their wives contracted fevers. Additionally, a woman had to be on somewhat of good behavior because if she was a "gadabout" (Hammurabi) and embarrassed or did not care for her husband, she might be punished by being tossed into water. Stockdale notes that while this looks oppressive for women, there were some laws established in the code that protected women from abuse.

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For example, restrictions were placed on how women's dowries could be used and the "manner in which divorce can happen all point to the state's recognition that women needed some legal protections from male authority" (Stockdale). This allows us to understand the complexities that the code covers. There was no special group of people. The code tried, at all costs, to protect those that needed protection.

The Code of Hammurabi illustrates an important time in history because it reveals a time when society was not simply running amuck. We often think of ancient times as less educated and evolved as ours but Hammurabi's Code demonstrates that society has been evolved for quite some time. The code established that while we live in a society that contains "haves" and "have nots," there are rules and regulations that attempt to protect all. We look for and need guidance. Without it, we would end up like the characters in the Lord of the Flies. Hammurabi knew this long before that book was published and his intent was to do something about the injustices he saw. The fact that Hammurabi's Code is written is even more evidence that the leader had enough foresight to understand the importance of something to which people could refer for guidance. While such documents are commonplace today, they were practically nonexistent in ancient societies. Hammurabi understood the importance of reference and his code lived for centuries after his death because it was so important and relevant.

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