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Reasons For Hammurambe's Code Dbq

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Did you know that Hammurambe would eventually rule an estimated population of over one million? Hammurambe was the ultimate ruler, the King of Babylonia, and ruled for forty-two years. The King of Babylonia’s Laws: Were They Fair? Hammurambe’s Code was not fair because there was no evidence Shamash, the god of justice, was real, future kings could not alter the law to make it just, and the strong were not treated the same as the weak. The first reason Hammurambe’s Code was not just was because there was no evidence from the stele that the god of justice, Shamash, ever existed. According to Document A, excerpts from Hammurambe’s Code, “the stele shows Hammurambe standing before Shamash, the god of justice.” Why should we believe the Code if there was no proof Shamash was real? The second reason Hammurambe’s Code was not just was because no other future king could alter the law to make it just, or even to just keep up with what was going on at the time. According to Document B, excerpts from the epilogue, “if he destroys the law...may the great gods of heaven and …show more content…

According to Document E, excerpts from Hammurambe’s Code, “if a man strikes the daughter of a free man and causes her to lose the fruit of the womb, he shall pay ten shekels of silver...if he has struck a slave-girl and has caused her to lose her fruit of her womb, he shall pay two shekels of silver.” If Hammurambe’s Code was truly meant to spread righteousness over the land; if it were really given by the god of justice, Shamash; if Hammurambe himself stated in Document B, excerpts from the epilogue, “may the law spread righteousness in the land...may the strong protect the weak...” How can there be righteousness in the land if the punishments are less harsh for the slave-girl, who is weaker than the daughter of the free girl? How can Hammurambe justify

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