1760 B.C.E.
Hammurabi’s Code
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“King of Babylon from 1782 B.C.E., Hammurabi’s main contribution to civilization lies in his laying down a code of 282 laws in 1760 B.C.E. Written in the Akkadian language on a stela, or basalt column, the code was placed prominently in the city. The laws set out detailed punishments (many involving the death penalty) for specific offenses. Their harshness aside, they embody enduring legal principles, including the importance of evidence, the presumption of innocence, and the need to avoid arbitrary justice. At the top of the stela is a depiction of the king being given the laws by the god Shamash. Although probably not the earliest law code, Hammurabi’s is the most complete to have survived from this early period.
A system of professional judges was set up, and a right of appeal granted to the king — though even he was required to act within the divinely inspired, and hence immutable, code of justice. Tribal or customary vengeance was not acceptable. Property rights and a system of contracts were set out, as were the rights of owners over their slaves and landlords over their tenants. Marriage law was also established and dealt with primarily in contractual terms.
In addition to setting down a code of laws, Hammurabi strengthened his kingdom both militarily and economically. Until he inherited its throne, Babylon had been just one of several small competing Mesopotamian states. After driving off an attack by the northern Elamites, Hammurabi conquered the rival local power Larsa to create his empire in southern Mesopotamia by 1763 B.C.E.; he then expanded his own power to the north.” (PF)/z
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⬆️⬇️A carved stone tablet containing a fragment of Hammurabi’s code, written in cuneiform characters, c. 1760 B.C.E.
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