Historical Interpretation: The Law Code of Hammurabi

Historical Interpretation and Synthesis

After reading excerpts from The Law Code of Hammurabi I concluded that the economy was a very important factor in ancient Mesopotamia. I mean the economy is a very important factor everywhere but in ancient Mesopotamia the economy was really life or death. For example; if you made a certain deal to trade something with a fellow citizen and you did not hold up you part of the deal you could have really dire consequences. The economy in the region was mainly based on gold, food, and animals.

The society was very strict and "uptight" in ancient Mesopotamia. Two distinct social groups were mentioned and those were "freemen" and "slaves". The freemen were held up to a higher standard and was respected way more as oppose to slaves being very low in the social class system. Women enjoyed the right to if left by a man after having children they could still be and use half of the man's earnings and properties. Women who were "formally dedicated" to a temple god were not allowed to drink alcohol or enter a pub of any kind, if did they would be burnt.

Social problems that were mainly pointed out were infidelity and thieving. The principles of justice was fair, when someone wronged another, they would then be wronged in return. the people of the 21st century may consider them a little too cruel as punishment though.