Mesopotamia &Hammurabi's Code

4 early River Valley Civilizations

• Sumerian Civilization - Tigris & Euphrates Rivers (Mesopotamia)

• Egyptian Civilization - Nile River

• Harappan Civilization - Indus River

• Ancient China - Huang He (Yellow) River

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

City-States in Mesopotamia

I. GEOGRAPHYA. Mostly dry desert climate in SW Asia (Middle East)

SW Asia

(the Middle East)

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

Fertile Crescent

1. Except in region between Tigris / Euphrates rivers2. a flat plain known as Mesopotamia lies between the two rivers3. Because of this region’s shape and the richness of its soil, it is called the Fertile Crescent. - the rivers flood at least once a year, leaving a thick bed of mud called silt.

Chapter 2 Lecture Outline: “The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”

City-States in MesopotamiaI. GEOGRAPHY

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

3. Because of this region’s shape and the richness of it’s soil, it is called the Fertile Crescent. - the rivers flood at least once a year, leaving a thick bed of mud called silt.

Sumerians were first to settle in this region, attracted by the rich soil.

B. Three Disadvantages / Environmental Challenges1. Unpredictable flooding / dry summer months2. No natural barriers for protection - small villages lying in open plain were defenseless3. Limited natural resources - stone, wood, metal

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

“The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”

City-States in MesopotamiaIII. SUMERIAN CULTURE

C. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY1. One of the first writing systems-CUNIEFORM2. Invented the wheel, plow, and sail3. First to use bronze.

Cylinder seals and their ancient impressions on administrative documents and locking devices are our richest source for a range of meaningful subject matters.A wealth of these have been discovered at Sumerian sites. *

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

“The Four Early River Valley Civilizations”City-States in Mesopotamia

C. Babylonian Empire1. Overtook Sumerians around 2,000 B.C.2. Built capital, Babylon, on Euphrates river

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

3. Reign of Hammurabi [1792-1750 B.C.E.]

•Hammurabi wasn’t the firstruler to establish code of laws

•His is the best preserved legal document

•Rulers of ancient Babylon believed that the gods hadentrusted them to deal fairly withtheir people

“to bring about the rule ofrighteousness in the land…so that the strong should notharm the weak

•The code standing 8 feet tallwas placed in a public area

Hammurabi, the king of righteousness,On whom Shamash has conferred the Law,

am I.

When Marduk sent me to rule over men, to give the protection of right to the land,

I did right and in righteousness brought about the well-being of the oppressed.

Below are situations Hammurabi faced.  You and your partner decide what you think to be a fair way to deal with the problem.

Then together we’ll view what Hammurabi actually declared.  We’ll find out if Marduk, the supreme god, will be pleased with your decisions?

1. What should be done to the carpenter who builds a house that falls and kills the owner? 2. What should be done about a wife who ignores her duties and belittles her husband? 3. What should be done when a "sister of god" (or nun) enters the wine shop for a drink? 4. What should be done if a son is adopted and then the birth-parents want him back? 5. What happens if a man is unable to pay his debts? 6. What should happen to a boy who slaps his father? 7. What happens to the wine seller who fails to arrest bad characters gathered at her shop?8. How is the truth determined when one man brings an accusation against another?

http://www.phillipmartin.info/hammurabi/hammurabi_situation_index.htmCompiled and Illustrated by

Phillip Martincopyright 1998

What should be done to the carpenter who builds a house that falls and kills the owner?

If a builder builds a house for a manand does not make its construction sound, and the house which he has built collapses and causes the death of the owner of the house, the builder shall be put to death.

-Code 229

What happens if a man is unable to pay his debts?

If a man be in debt and is unable to pay his creditors, he shall sell his wife, son, or daughter, or bind them over to service. For three years they shall work in the houses of their purchaser or master; in the fourth year they shall be given their freedom.

-Code 117

What happens to the wine seller who fails to arrest

bad characters gathered at her shop?

If bad characters gather in the house of a wine seller and she does not arrest those characters and bring them to the palace, that wine seller shall be put to death

-Code 108

What should be done about a wife who ignores her

duties and belittles her husband?

If the woman has not been careful but has gadded about, neglecting her house and belittling her husband, they shall throw that woman into the water.

-Code 143

What should be done if a son is adopted and then

the birth-parents want him back?

If a man takes in his own home a young boy as a son and rears him, one may not bring claim for that adopted son.

-Code 185

 

What should happen to a boy who slaps his father?

If a son strikes his father, they shall cut off his hand.

-Code 195

How is the truth determined when one man brings an accusation against another?

If any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser shall take possession of his house. But if the river prove that the accused is not guilty, and he escape unhurt, then he who had brought the accusation shall be put to death, while he who leaped into the river shall take possession of the house that had belonged to his accuser.

-Code 2

What should be done when a "sister of god" (or

nun) enters the wine shop for a drink?

If a "sister of god" (nun) who is not living in a convent opens a wine shop or enters a wine shop for a drink, they shall burn that woman.

-Code 110

Which people werefavored by the laws and which were not?

Have society’s problems changed orremained the same?

Did Hammurabiaccomplish what heset out to do?

“to bring about the rule of righteousnessin the land…so thatthe strong should notharm the weak.