Preface:
Hammurabi was a Babylonian king who ruled from 1792 to 1750 B.C. His attributes were he extended his empire northward from the Persian Gulf to the Tigris and Euphrates River and west to the Mediterranean Sea. He united the area into one extensive empire, Mesopotamia, which in present day is known as Iraq. (Ancient Mesopotamia)
Hammurabi created a list of rules and laws for the people of his empire to follow called “The Code of Hammurabi”. This is one of the oldest and most detailed documents in existence and gives insight as to how the members of Babylonian society lived. The code listed 282 rules for society to obey by and the consequences or guidelines for each member given ...view middle of the document...
Chronology:
2300 BC – Babylon was founded.
1894 BC – Babylon becomes an independent city-state.
1810 BC – Hammurabi was born to the king of Babylon, Sin-Muballit.
1792 BC – Hammurabi begins his reign of Babylon, at 18, due to his father’s death.
1787 BC – Hammurabi begins his military campaign and conquers Uruk and Isin.
1772 BC – Hammurabi creates his Code of Laws. The god of justice gave him permission to do so and the community held it in high regard.
1764 BC – Hammurabi has victory at his first major war, the defeat of Elam.
1763 BC – Hammurabi defeats Larsa, expanding Babylon. Hammurabi’s skills were creating a Babylonian empire.
1761 BC – Hammurabi conquers and gains control of Mari. All his rivals nearby were eliminated. Previously, Babylon was a small kingdom with little power, now a powerhouse under Hammurabi’s leadership. Mesopotamia would now have peace.
1750 BC – Hammurabi died.
1749 BC – Hammurabi’s son rules the empire and the empire begins to decline due to the people believing they are being punished by the gods.
689 BC – The Assyrians destroy Babylon. It never had the strength and power it had while being ruled under Hammurabi.
1901 – French archaeologist, Jean-Vincent Scheil discovers The Code of Hammurabi.
Hammurabi was born roughly in 1810 BC in the city of Babylon. Sin-Muballit, his father, was the king of Babylon. He watched his father rule the city at when Hammurabi turned eighteen, his father passed away making Hammurabi the king of Babylon. (Ancient Mesopotamia)
Hammurabi ran Babylon from 1792 BC – 1750 BC when he passed. During his reign he has many achievements. He took Babylon, a small kingdom, and eventually controlled all of Mesopotamia. He turned it into an empire and was called the king of “the four quarters of the world.” Hammurabi did much for Mesopotamia. He built new canals, aqueducts, and temples throughout the land. (Ancient Mesopotamia) None of these compare to what Hammurabi is most known for, Hammurabi’s Code of Laws. Hammurabi create 282 laws for the people of his empire to follow in order to improve the well-being of and structure of his people. The Code of Laws was etched into stone columns throughout the empire for civilization to read. Hammurabi’s Code of Laws shaped the Mesopotamian society, and gave structure and legality to the people.
Hammurabi’s Code of Laws was carved into stone over seven feet tall in cuneiform, one of the earliest writing systems. At the top of the stone was depicted a picture of Hammurabi receiving the code from the god of justice, Shamash. (The Stele of Hammurabi). Hammurabi stated “Hammurabi, the king of righteousness, on whom Shamash has conferred the law, am I. I require a law to be written to govern my people! To bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, so that the strong should not harm the weak.” (Http://www.alabar.org/lawday/winners12/7-9_3%20StarlainaGraham.pdf.) Hammurabi held himself in high regard and an equal of the...
