LAWS AND ORDERWhat kind of laws are necessary

for a society?What constitutes a fair law code?

Rise of Empires

City-state City with political and economic control over

surrounding countryside Expansion leads to conflict

Akkad

North of Sumer Sargon of Akkad

Šarru-kīnu = “the true king” Conquered Sumerian city-states Established Akkadian Empire

2334 – 2154 BCE

The Curse of Akkad

For the first time since cities were built and founded,The great agricultural tracts produced no grain,The inundated tracts produced no fish,The irrigated orchards produced neither wine nor syrup,The gathered clouds did not rain, the masgurum did not

grow.At that time, one shekel's worth of oil was only one-half

quart,One shekel's worth of grain was only one-half quart. . . .These sold at such prices in the markets of all the cities!He who slept on the roof, died on the roof,He who slept in the house, had no burial,People were flailing at themselves from hunger.

Babylon

Warring city-states until 1792 BCE Babylon came to power

Hammurabi Gained control of Sumer and Akkad Code of Hammurabi

The “Hammer of Abi”

Code of Hammurabi

Around 1750 BCE 282 laws with scaled punishments

Religion Military Service Trade Slavery Duties of workers Code of conduct Laws

Code of Hammurabi: Preamble

“When Anu the Sublime, King of the Anunaki, and Bel, the lord of Heaven and earth, who decreed the fate of the land, assigned to Marduk, the over-ruling son of Ea, God of righteousness, dominion over earthly man, and made him great among the Igigi, they called Babylon by his illustrious name, made it great on earth, and founded an everlasting kingdom in it, whose foundations are laid so solidly as those of heaven and earth;”

Code of Hammurabi: Preamble

“then Anu and Bel called by name me, Hammurabi, the exalted prince, who feared God, to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak; so that I should rule over the black-headed people like Shamash, and enlighten the land, to further the well-being of mankind.”

Code of Hammurabi: Preamble

“When Marduk sent me to rule over men, to give the protection of right to the land, I did right and righteousness in … , and brought about the well-being of the oppressed.”