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The best method of finding out about a certain culture is to look at their laws and other court records. The Laws of Hammurabi are the best preserved legal document reflecting the social structure of Babylon during Hammurabi's rule. They address the rights of the poor to seek compensation from wrongs committed by the wealthy or by the nobility. The laws also discussed the rights of women, such as the right to own property in their own names and to divorce their husband. Through these laws, the Mesopotamian people, or their rulers at least, seem to have been a very strict civilization. This is apparent in laws 22 and 23, concerning theft and robbery.
Any man caught committing robbery will be put to death. Based on todays society and laws, that seems very harsh, but it shows that the Mesopotamian people were very stern with the criminals. The next law says that if a robbery has been committed but the robber has not be caught, the city and the governor... shall make good to him his lost property. This fair and just law would never happen in todays society. The government does not reimburse people for stolen items, with the exception of insurance money.
The Laws of Hammurabi also show that the Mesopotamian people were very family oriented. Law 195 states that any son who strikes his father will lose his hand. Although this is a very harsh law, it shows that the society had respect for their elders. If that respect was not there, they were severely punished.
Laws 209 - 212 also discuss family issues, especially daughters and their fetuses. Anyone who killed a fetus was required to pay a certain amount, and, if the pregnant woman dies, his daughter would be killed also. The punishment was lessened for a commoners daughter and child, but it was still strict. These laws show that the people were very concerned with their children and family. Bibliography:
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Research essay sample on Laws Of Hammurabi Todays Society People
