Osama Siddiqui

Answer questions about Hammurabi’s Code

1.Why did Hammurabi create laws?

Hammurabi created laws to maintain peace and justice in his empire.

2.Where did his laws come from?

Hammurabi’s claimed that his laws came from the gods Emiliel and Marduk.

3.Read and comment three of the following laws: 117, 145, 129, 132, 142, 145. Do these laws sound
reasonable to you? In your comments, consider social order, justice, punishment, and equality

 Law 145, if a man’s wife does not give him children he may take a concubine.
o This law does not sound reasonable because it does not maintain equality between the
two genders. A wife may not be able to become pregnant because of the man’s
reproductive area, therefore it does not seem fair that the man should be allowed to
take a concubine.
 Law 117, If a man sells his wife or child to settle a debt, they shall work in the house of the buyer
for three years, and regain their freedom in the fourth.
o This law does not sound reasonable because the wife and child are forced to pay the
debt of their husband or father. The reoccurring theme in Hammurabi’s laws is the
elevation of men in society, whereas the females are treated with no respect or
equality. In this particular law, the man should be punished for his mistakes not
members of his family.
 Law 129, If a man’s wife is caught lying with another man, they shall be bound and thrown into
the water. If the woman’s husband spares her life, the king shall spare the life of the man.
o This law does not sounds reasonable because the punishment seems very extreme. Both
genders should have freedom to do what they want. Although, the wife should be
punished for her actions the penalty should not be death.