History
Hammurabi's Code: Laws of Ancient Babylon
Discover the Code of Hammurabi, one of history's first written legal codes from ancient Babylon, famous for its "eye for an eye" principle.
What is it?
The Code of Hammurabi is one of the oldest and most complete written legal codes, dating to about 1750 BC in ancient Babylon. Issued by the sixth Babylonian king, Hammurabi, this collection of 282 laws was inscribed on a stone monument, or stele, for all to see. The laws address a wide array of topics, including property rights, trade, family matters, and criminal justice. It is famously associated with the principle of lex talionis, or retributive justice, often summarized by the phrase "an eye for an eye."
Why is it trending?
The code remains a subject of study for its immense historical significance. It represents one of the first major attempts to create a standardized set of laws, making justice public and less arbitrary. Its rediscovery in 1901 provided profound insights into the complexity of Babylonian society, its class structure, and its values. The Code of Hammurabi is also studied for its influence on later legal systems and its foundational role in the global evolution of law, establishing principles that would resonate for millennia.
How does it affect people?
In its era, the code provided social order by establishing clear rules and consequences, with the stated aim of protecting the weak from the strong. However, it applied justice unequally, as punishments often varied based on the social status of the perpetrator and victim, reinforcing a rigid class structure of nobles, commoners, and slaves. Its lasting impact on civilization is the principle of a codified, publicly accessible legal system. This idea of written law as a cornerstone of governance has influenced countless legal traditions, including elements of modern justice systems.