Hammurabi's Code Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

How many centuries did Hammurabi live?

How long did Hammurabi rule?

42 years

From Larsa to Mari, what was the approximate length of Babylonia from north to south?

350 miles

What was the estimated population of Babylonia?

One million Signup and view all the answers

Into what three social classes was the population divided?

Land owners, free people who did not own any land, & slaves Signup and view all the answers

How many laws were in Hammurabi's code?

282 laws Signup and view all the answers

Define city-state.

A city that with its surrounding territory forms an independent state. Signup and view all the answers

What is Babylonia?

An ancient Mesopotamian empire that extended throughout the Fertile Crescent in the 1700s B.C. Signup and view all the answers

What is Mesopotamia?

Land between two rivers Signup and view all the answers

What are the two rivers that are around Mesopotamia?

Tigris and Euphrates Signup and view all the answers

What is cuneiform?

Wedge-shaped writing that Egyptians used, consisting of about 600 symbols written with a reed stylus. Signup and view all the answers

What is a stele?

A carved stone slab used to mark graves or to commemorate historical events. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of writing was used to inscribe the code on the stele?

Wedge-shaped cuneiform letters Signup and view all the answers

The code is divided into what three parts?

Procedural law, property law, law of persons Signup and view all the answers

From whom does Hammurabi get the laws?

Shamash Signup and view all the answers

Where did Shamash sit while giving Hammurabi the laws?

Seated on his throne Signup and view all the answers

What was the purpose of having written these laws?

To protect the weak Signup and view all the answers

Who commanded Hammurabi to create this monument?

Shamash Signup and view all the answers

What does Hammurabi threaten will happen to any future Babylonian king who does not follow these laws?

Inflict a curse upon his family, land, warriors, subjects and troops Signup and view all the answers

In Law 129, what does it mean to 'bind them and cast them into water'?

Tie the married woman and the other man together and drown them Signup and view all the answers

In Law 168, what does it mean to 'disinherit' a son?

To disown them, take them out of your will Signup and view all the answers

In Law 21, what is the penalty for breaking into a home?

Put to death by piercing or hanging Signup and view all the answers

In Law 23, if the robber is not caught, who reimburses the victim for his or her loss?

The mayor and city Signup and view all the answers

In Law 48, what is a creditor?

The person that the borrowed money is from Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'fruit of her womb'?

Baby in the belly Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Hammurabi's Code Overview

Hammurabi lived for approximately 40 centuries ago.
He ruled Babylonia for 42 years.
The length of Babylonia from Larsa to Mari was about 350 miles.
Babylonia had an estimated population of one million inhabitants.

The society was divided into three classes: landowners, free non-landowners, and slaves.

Hammurabi's Code

Hammurabi's code consisted of 282 distinct laws.
The laws are categorized into procedural law, property law, and the law of persons.
The code was inscribed in wedge-shaped cuneiform on a stele, a carved stone slab.

Geography and Culture

Babylonia was part of an ancient Mesopotamian empire located in the Fertile Crescent during the 1700s B.C.
Mesopotamia refers to the land situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.

Writing and Legal Procedures

Cuneiform writing, characterized by its wedge shapes, was used for documentation.
Shamash, the sun god, was believed to have bestowed the laws upon Hammurabi while seated on a throne.
The purpose of the laws was to protect the weak and ensure justice.

Divine Authority and Penalties

Shamash commanded Hammurabi to establish these legal codes.
Future Babylonian kings failing to adhere to these laws would face curses upon their families and land.

Specific Laws and Their Implications

Law 129 involved the punishment of drowning for adultery, binding the guilty parties together.
Law 168 allowed for the disinheritance of sons, severing legal ties.
Law 21 prescribed death as punishment for burglary.
If a robber remained uncaught, law 23 mandated reimbursement by the mayor and city.
Law 48 defined a creditor as the individual from whom money was borrowed.
The term "fruit of her womb" refers to an unborn baby.

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Test your knowledge on Hammurabi's Code with these flashcards. Each card provides a question related to the key facts about Hammurabi's life, reign, and the structure of Babylonia. Perfect for students looking to understand this significant historical figure and his legal contributions.