Featured Resource
Author
Natalia G.
Subject
Law
Difficulty
6th Grade
Create a one page worksheet for the topic of Hammurabi Code. Pick 6 laws to examine and have students determine if the law is fair and harsh and have room for them to explain their answers. Then pick 2 laws that are similar to laws we have to today and have students make a connection between Hammurabi law and modern law. Finally have students write a sentence explaining how the laws of Hammurabi show what life was like back in Babylon.
Hammurabi's Code is a foundational document in the history of legal systems, representing one of the earliest comprehensive written legal codes, established around 1754 BCE in ancient Babylon. This set of 282 laws encompasses various aspects of justice and societal rules, dealing with issues from theft and physical harm to property rights. The document prompts reflection on its severe penalties, such as the death penalty for robbery or the punishment of blindness for causing harm. It encourages students to analyze the fairness of these laws, compare them to modern legal principles, and draw conclusions about the social structure and values of ancient Babylon.