Laws and Rituals throughout History Began with the Code of Hammurabi Essays

Laws and Rituals throughout History Began with the Code of Hammurabi Essays

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Throughout history, many civilizations have endured through a system of social, political, religious, and economic laws and rituals. Most of these laws and rituals were set up as procedures for moral behavior, family life, education, government, and business. These basic values were set forth by an early civilization known as the Babylonians. Law codes were regarded as a subject for prayer. However, to truly gain an understanding of Mesopotamia in the 17th Century BC, we should take a closer look at the penalties rather than the laws themselves.
There is a lot about Babylonian society that can be learned through reading the Code of Hammurabi. In the very least, the document itself and the materials used to produce it tell how advanced the empire was. In some cases, punishment was left to the gods to determine. The codes were interpreted by beginning and ending addressing the gods . Although the gods were unpredictable, the Sumerians looked towards what the gods held in store for them. The Sumerians were struck by the phenomenal regularity of the movement of the heavens. This led to the creation of astrology.
Babylon was the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Some civilians were educated and can best be seen in their advanced irrigation system development. They invented the number 0 in the metric system because it was easy to write and understand. This led to measurements of time such as 60 seconds, 60 minutes, and 360 degrees in a circle. They knew mathematics, science, and astrology. They created the first calendar, the lunar calendar, based on the moon. The first real mechanical device was created, known as the potter’s wheel.
Irrigation was essential. Because the Mesopotamian climate didn't have r...

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...ttractive for neighboring peoples, and its lack of mountains made it fairly difficult to protect against invaders. The result was numerous invasions throughout history, and many times foreign warlords replaced the existing rulers. Few dynasties lasted more than a few hundred years.
Hammurabi spent a great deal of time deciding what rules where necessary to impose order and remain in line with his religion. These laws were a form of protection to the citizens as well as the governing authority. The code of law provided consistent justice and covered many aspects of daily life. King Hammurabi’s reign is often referred to as “The Golden Age of Babylon” because of his many accomplishments and reforms. “The complexity and unwavering attention to detail are evidence that Hammurabi's ideas to create sustainable society where to say the least innovative for his time” .

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