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davidpc83's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Most of these laws are definitely messed up, built on a patriarchal society where women are property, slaves, etc.
This is where the phrase "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" actually comes from (2 separate laws paraphrased).
Impressive though how specific the laws were written.
Consequences for not following the laws were usually pretty harsh (death to self or one of your family members (who probably had nothing to do with your crime), cutting off body part based on crime, heavy fine, etc).
I read part of this back in high school, but got around to reading the Code of Hammurabi in it's entirety, at least the parts that are preserved (laws 66-100 are missing of the 282 total laws). The text I read also included the introduction and epilogue (prayers/curses written by King Hammurabi to any future ruler that doesn't continue his laws).
This is where the phrase "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" actually comes from (2 separate laws paraphrased).
Impressive though how specific the laws were written.
Consequences for not following the laws were usually pretty harsh (death to self or one of your family members (who probably had nothing to do with your crime), cutting off body part based on crime, heavy fine, etc).
I read part of this back in high school, but got around to reading the Code of Hammurabi in it's entirety, at least the parts that are preserved (laws 66-100 are missing of the 282 total laws). The text I read also included the introduction and epilogue (prayers/curses written by King Hammurabi to any future ruler that doesn't continue his laws).
blueyorkie's review
4.0
Hammurabi remained in power thanks to his tenacity and great political ability, knowing how to take advantage of the best possible game of skill through pacts and alliances with contemporary kings. One of his first concerns was the implementation of law and order in the country, foundations that led to the internal unity of his kingdom. With great patience, self-mastery, and much political tact, he builds, through his victories and achievements, piece by piece, his vast empire. The critical feature in Hammurabi's reign is righteousness (justice, this contemporary thereof). He made a great effort to reign justice, and any citizen had the right to appeal to the king. In the time of Hammurabi, centralism reached its peak. It will preserve the Code's Text in almost all of it, which scraped and lost 35 to 40 legal articles. Laws to punish possible crimes committed during the judicial process (1-5). The rules that regulate the patrimonial right (6-126). And if the dead were the son, the law of retaliation applies (117) - Laws governing family law and inheritance (127-195). Laws to Punish Bodily Injury (196-214) Were the laws of bodily harm only the same as equals? The rules that regulate the rights and duties of individual classes: Doctors (215-223). Veterinarians (224-225). Barbers (226-227). Bricklayers (228-233). Boatmen (234-240). The laws regulate prices and wages (241-277).
That part of the code is about regulating the entire labor market. New laws governing the possession of enslaved people (278-282) Established specific rules concerning enslaved people.
The emphasis was given to theft, agriculture, cattle ranching, property damage, murder, death, and injury. The punishment or penalty is different for each class. Laws do not tolerate excuses or explanations for errors or failures: the code was freely displayed in plain sight so that no one could plead ignorance of the law as an excuse. However, few people knew how to read at that time.
That part of the code is about regulating the entire labor market. New laws governing the possession of enslaved people (278-282) Established specific rules concerning enslaved people.
The emphasis was given to theft, agriculture, cattle ranching, property damage, murder, death, and injury. The punishment or penalty is different for each class. Laws do not tolerate excuses or explanations for errors or failures: the code was freely displayed in plain sight so that no one could plead ignorance of the law as an excuse. However, few people knew how to read at that time.
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
4.0
Created out of divine authority, world's first code of laws is quite an amusing read.
It surprised me with some of its humane laws:
If a man has incurred a debt and a storm has flooded his field or carried away the crop, or the corn has not grown because of drought, in that year he shall not pay his creditor. Further, he shall post-date his bond and shall not pay interest for that year.
I mean okay there is capital sentence even for such minor crimes as burgalaries and theft but that is to be expected from any laws written 3700 years ago (to put the figure in context - that is two centuries before Vedas and a thousand years before Homer) - and not only there were laws but there was administration to impose it.
The state actually took responsibity of doing justice, taking loss on itself where it couldn't capture criminal (which kind of makes you understand its severity when they were caught):
If the highwayman has not been
caught, the man that has been robbed shall state on oath what he has lost and the city or district governor in whose territory or district the robbery took place shall restore to him what he has lost.
I also found it interesting to find notion of average rent which probably was gained from experience of execution of older rent laws:
If a man has hired a field to cultivate and has caused no corn to grow on the field, he shall be held responsible for not doing the work on the field and shall pay an average rent.
It surprised me with some of its humane laws:
If a man has incurred a debt and a storm has flooded his field or carried away the crop, or the corn has not grown because of drought, in that year he shall not pay his creditor. Further, he shall post-date his bond and shall not pay interest for that year.
I mean okay there is capital sentence even for such minor crimes as burgalaries and theft but that is to be expected from any laws written 3700 years ago (to put the figure in context - that is two centuries before Vedas and a thousand years before Homer) - and not only there were laws but there was administration to impose it.
The state actually took responsibity of doing justice, taking loss on itself where it couldn't capture criminal (which kind of makes you understand its severity when they were caught):
If the highwayman has not been
caught, the man that has been robbed shall state on oath what he has lost and the city or district governor in whose territory or district the robbery took place shall restore to him what he has lost.
I also found it interesting to find notion of average rent which probably was gained from experience of execution of older rent laws:
If a man has hired a field to cultivate and has caused no corn to grow on the field, he shall be held responsible for not doing the work on the field and shall pay an average rent.
warreng's review against another edition
2.0
A list of laws, penalties, fines, wages and fees in ancient Babylonia. What is a fairly dry list of laws actually provides a lot of insight into life in ancient times. Reading the laws provides evidence of the presence of
• agriculture, irrigation canals, tillage, tenancy of land, corn and sesame, orchards, sheep grown for wool (and prey to lions), and allowance for storm, flood and drought
• belief in magic and witchcraft
• slavery
• doctors and veterinarians (with set fees, and penalties if their patients died)
• merchants keeping written records and using money
• marriage, separation, divorce, adoption and inheritance
• adultery, incest, rape, kidnapping and manslaughter
• theft, assault, defamation, brawling
with much resulting “put to death” or “bound and thrown into the water”, with the occasional burning alive, impalement and maiming. Even governors and magistrates were not immune to such harsh treatment. Also, the famous Old Testament “eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth” is literally recommended as fair retribution.
Certainly not a volume for repeat reading for pleasure, but interesting nonetheless, and shows how original sources can inform historians about many social practices of the time. It also provided some legal protection for women and the poor in an age when their rights surely would not have been recognised otherwise, including a minimum wage and the presumption of innocence.
Favourite line:
#109 If a wine merchant has collected a riotous assembly in her house and has not seized those rioters and driven them to the palace, that wine merchant shall be put to death.
This was book #2 in my journey to read all the classics of world literature. You can join me at my blog : www.chronolit.com
• agriculture, irrigation canals, tillage, tenancy of land, corn and sesame, orchards, sheep grown for wool (and prey to lions), and allowance for storm, flood and drought
• belief in magic and witchcraft
• slavery
• doctors and veterinarians (with set fees, and penalties if their patients died)
• merchants keeping written records and using money
• marriage, separation, divorce, adoption and inheritance
• adultery, incest, rape, kidnapping and manslaughter
• theft, assault, defamation, brawling
with much resulting “put to death” or “bound and thrown into the water”, with the occasional burning alive, impalement and maiming. Even governors and magistrates were not immune to such harsh treatment. Also, the famous Old Testament “eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth” is literally recommended as fair retribution.
Certainly not a volume for repeat reading for pleasure, but interesting nonetheless, and shows how original sources can inform historians about many social practices of the time. It also provided some legal protection for women and the poor in an age when their rights surely would not have been recognised otherwise, including a minimum wage and the presumption of innocence.
Favourite line:
#109 If a wine merchant has collected a riotous assembly in her house and has not seized those rioters and driven them to the palace, that wine merchant shall be put to death.
This was book #2 in my journey to read all the classics of world literature. You can join me at my blog : www.chronolit.com
clockworkp's review
4.0
Es muy interesante e increíble lo burocrático que fueron siempre las sociedades humanas, al menos cuando están bien governadas. Cosas como divorcio, arrendamientos, asesinatos, herencias... Rápido de leer y con mucho subtexto.
ostrava's review against another edition
4.0
I randomly decided to read this. Since there was no "use" for me behind it, I didn't really pay it any attention, as far as details go. And I know next to nothing about Babylonian culture, which makes my sudden urge all the more strange.
Anyway, Hammurabi wasn't a guy that fucked around. Almost all of these "laws" are punished by death, nuance and degrees of severity be damned. I remember one of them being about nuns (?) not being allowed to drink or else they were burned alive? It's brutal from start to finish. It's also interesting how there isn't really a consensus as to what these precepts are exactly: laws? Past cases? An early attempt at compiling jurisprudence? Crazy stuff. I'm probably going to find more enjoyment in the Gilgamesh though.
Anyway, Hammurabi wasn't a guy that fucked around. Almost all of these "laws" are punished by death, nuance and degrees of severity be damned. I remember one of them being about nuns (?) not being allowed to drink or else they were burned alive? It's brutal from start to finish. It's also interesting how there isn't really a consensus as to what these precepts are exactly: laws? Past cases? An early attempt at compiling jurisprudence? Crazy stuff. I'm probably going to find more enjoyment in the Gilgamesh though.
alexccavaco's review against another edition
4.0
The Code of Hammurabi is an important piece of history. It shows the organization of one of the oldest civilizations and its conservation is a gift in itself. This code shows a clear structure to the lives under Hammurabi and a clear attempt to make a fair system despite status. There is, of course, a clear distinction between many individuals, women and slaves are endowed with significantly fewer rights than men, for example. However, this is not as clear as the law siding with the favorable entity at all times. Nonetheless and overall, this writing is very alien to our own times and, given that, it can be shocking. Recurrently, the judgment for a crime leads to the death of one or more individuals, sometimes this death is specified as burning. The system is very harsh in the penalty, but attempts "fairness", at least in the concept of those times, and covers a surprising amount.
levininja's review against another edition
5.0
The main topics are setting prices, divorce laws, incest is bad mmmkay, stealing is bad, animal lending laws, landlord laws, some laws about boats, lots of farming stuff, water rights, and perhaps most interesting were the laws pertaining to marriage.
Basically it was understood that the man had a responsibility to take care of his wife and if he wasn’t able to she was entitled to certain things including remarriage depending on circumstances. Also though, she was expected to put out children and if she couldn’t do that he could get a second wife or concubine. There’s also several laws pertaining to when a woman dies, how her “marriage portion” is divided among her father or her children depending on other circumstances. It isn’t specified what the marriage portion is.
I found it interesting that although their roles were very gendered and women were certainly not treated equally, there certainly were many rights afforded to women that other ancient societies didn’t necessarily afford. I like how, if her husband dies, her children have to take care of her.
In the laws about property rights, three main possessions are listed repeatedly: a man’s garden, a man’s house, and a man’s field. These were fundamental and couldn’t be requisitioned to pay for his debts unless he was a foreigner.
All in all I think there is a lot here worth reading. It’s of great historical importance (the heavy influence it had on Mosaic Law is pretty apparent), and it only take an hour and a half. There’s an audiobook too.