Hammurabi’s Code

“an eye for an eye”

 Notes Set Up (pg. 24)

WHO 1.
2.
WHAT 1.
2.
3.
WHERE
Fair or Unfair (Explain)

Example(s) 1.
2.
How do we know
about these laws?
 A Code of Laws
• We owe the idea of laws to the
Babylonians.
• King Hammurabi of Babylon first
set down rules for everyone in his
empire to follow.
• A written code, or organized list, of
laws helps make sure laws are
applied fairly to all.
 Hammurabi’s Code
• The rules Hammurabi set became known as
Hammurabi’s Code. The code told
Babylonians how to settle problems in all
aspects of their lives.
• Hammurabi’s Code contained 282 laws.
• The code even had laws for events such as
adopting children, hiring boats, practicing
medicine, and controlling dangerous animals.
 An Eye for an Eye

• Hammurabi’s Code was based on the idea

of an eye for an eye. In other words, a
man who blinded another person would
have his own eye put out.
• The code was not fair to all. Punishment
often depended on how important the
victim was. The higher the class of victim,
the stiffer the penalty.
 Examples of Laws
1. A surgeon who causes the
death of a patient must have
his hand cut off.
2. A man may sell his wife or
children into slavery to pay a
debt.
3. Anyone who gets into a fight
with someone and breaks
any bones must pay that
person one mina of silver.
How do we know all of this?

Hammurabi’s Code
was written on
clay tablets in
cuneiform!
 How to set up your Notes…
WHO 1. Babylonians
2. King Hammurabi
WHAT 1. Written code of laws
2. Settled problems
3. 282 laws
WHERE Babylon
Fair or Unfair (Explain) Unfair laws were not equal to all

Example(s) 1. Eye for an Eye

2. Surgeon / hand
3. Sell wife/children to slavery to pay
off debt
4. Break bones $ mina of silver
How do we know about Written on clay tablets in cuneiform
these laws?
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