King Hammurabi

Who was King Hammurabi?

King Hammurabi was the first Great King of Babylon. Hammurabi was born around 1810 BC, and was a native to the city of Babylon. Although we don’t know a lot about his youth, we know that he was raised to be king, as the crown prince of Babylon.

As a child, he would have been taught about the Babylonian religion and how to fight so that he could be an effective military leader. He would also have been taught about diplomacy, and how to rule over the people of the city of Babylon.

What did Hammurabi do while in power?

Hammurabi became king when he was 18 years old, after his father died from an illness. Although at the time Babylon was not an empire, Hammurabi immediately set to work improving his city, and began to make plans for expansion. He strengthened the city walls, improved its irrigation system and worked to keep the people happy.

After several years of this, Hammurabi began to wage war against other kingdoms. He was first attacked by the Elamites, who he defeated easily in battle, and overtook the invading forces. Using the lands they’d already conquered, Hammurabi expanded the Babylonian base of control and established the first Babylonian Empire.

Hammurabi was renowned as a great ruler. He united all of Mesopotamia under his rule by conquering each territory that opposed him. Under his rule, the first Babylonian Empire was established.

The Babylonian Empire had a very long lifespan and was ruled over by many kings over the years. Hammurabi is particularly famous for the establishment of the world’s first written code of law, the Code of Hammurabi. Currently, the Code of Hammurabi is on display in the Louvre museum, in Paris.

What was the Code of Hammurabi?

The Code of Hammurabi was the world’s first written code of law. It was believed to have been passed down to Hammurabi by the gods. One of the best surviving copies of the code is carved on an object called a diorite stele. (Diorite is a kind of stone, while a stele is a kind of tablet.

The diorite stele is, essentially, just a stele made of diorite!) The Code’s diorite stele is a large stone, at about seven feet tall and two feet wide. It contains 282 different laws. A picture of Hammurabi is carved above the laws, with the god Shamash beside him.

What were the main laws of the Code of Hammurabi?

As previously stated, the Code of Hammurabi had 282 laws. These laws covered every area of the law, from murder to theft to false accusations, and were oftentimes very specific. Every law came with a hypothetical example listed, but these examples did not cover every detail of a possible case.

One of the most famous laws of the Code of Hammurabi reads as: “If a man destroys the eye of another man, they shall destroy his eye. If one break a man’s bone, they shall break his bone.” As can be seen from this law, the Code of Hammurabi was harsh. In the 282 laws, a punishment of execution is cited 30 times, and many more physical punishments are listed, such as whippings/beatings.

Some examples of these harsh laws include:

• If a son should strike his father, his hands shall be cut off.
• If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out.
• If any man should strike a man of higher rank, he shall receive sixty blows with an ox-whip.
• If a builder builds a house for someone and that house collapses killing them, then the builder shall be put to death.

Facts about King Hammurabi:

• King Hammurabi was the first Great King of Babylon.
• Hammurabi was born in 1810 BC.
• Hammurabi became king when he was 18 years old, after his father died from an illness.
• Although Babylon was not an empire when he first came to power, Hammurabi immediately set to work improving his city, and began to make plans for expansion.
• Hammurabi was renowned as a great ruler. He united all of Mesopotamia under his rule by conquering each territory that opposed him.
• Hammurabi is particularly famous for the establishment of the world’s first written code of law, the Code of Hammurabi.
• The Code of Hammurabi was the world’s first written code of law. It was believed to have been passed down to Hammurabi by the gods and had 282 laws written on it.

QUESTIONS:

1. What empire did King Hammurabi establish?

– The Babylonian Empire.

2. When was King Hammurabi born?

– 1810 BC.

3. At what age did Hammurabi first ascend to the throne?

– 18.

4. What was the Code of Hammurabi?

– The world’s first written code of law.

5. How many laws did the Code of Hammurabi contain?

– 282.

• Back to – Ancient Mesopotamia