The Code of Hammurabi (King of Babylon) Explained.

This video is brought to you by Captivating History. Hammurabi was one of the most influential rulers of the ancient world, and one of the most recognizable today. Why is that the case? Among several larger-than-life figures in ancient Mesopotamia, he distinguished himself as a builder, a conqueror, and a ruler. However, he is primarily known for his law code, one of the oldest known to history today. First, some background information. During his life, the northern kingdoms of Mesopotamia were ruled by many minor leaders and mostly consisted of city-states. Hammurabi himself was an Amorite, part of a nomadic people living in northern Mesopotamia. Ruling from 1792 to 1950 BCE, he was part of the first Amorite dynasty of Mesopotamia. Babylon rose to prominence under Hammurabi's rule. At the beginning of his reign, it was only a minor city in the northern part of Mesopotamia, overshadowed by nearby city-states. It was a thriving port and several rulers coveted it but had few other distinguishing characteristics. However, as the seat of Hammurabi's power, that would change. Few wars occurred in the early years of his rule. During this time, Hammurabi devoted himself to building projects and strengthening his kingdom from the center of Babylon. He built a canal to transport goods throughout his kingdom and repair to build one. He devoted an entire year to build a statue of Ishtar, also known as Inanna, one of his favorite deities. He also annulled or paid many debts throughout his kingdom, winning much favor among his subjects and ushering in a greater prosperity and wealth. In the 30th year of his reign, Hammurabi became the conqueror he is remembered to be, his empire poised to expand. Elam, a city to the south, was one of his first targets, full of important resources such as tin and lapis lazuli. It also controlled trade routes for these commodities and held sway over the territories to the north and the west. Elam's role in the battles and conquests that marked Hammurabi's reign was complex and had a profound impact on Babylon's relationship with other cities. At the height of Elam's power, it conflicted with the city of Mari, formerly its ally against the city-state of Eshnunna. Babylon sided with Mari but could not prevail, as Elam's armies outnumbered both combined, and despite Mari's own significance, Elam's power was much more significant. However, through strategic alliances and defensive battles, this changed. In 1763 BCE, the ruler of Elam, Siwe Polar Chupac, admitted defeat. This was a major victory for Babylon and the first of many that would mark Hammurabi's reign. Hammurabi's other conquests included Larsa and Eshnunna, city-states strategically important and previous rivals of Babylon, and desired by Elam before their fall. The cities to the north of Babylon now had rulers subordinate to Babylonian power. However, trouble brewed between Babylon and the other areas of major importance, such as Mari. The ruler of Mari, Zimri Lim, was one of the primary players in this growing conflict. At first, his relationship to Hammurabi was peaceful, but later, problems arose on the diplomatic front regarding access to particular regions. Hit was the city that sparked conflict between Mari and Babylon as it lay between the two territories of influence. It was rich in bitumen, which was required for Hammurabi's boats, and its ability to access it was important. However, Mari valued Hit and its river for their role in a ritual to prove innocence or guilt. Elam decided in favor of Mari, when still in power, something that Babylon did not take lying down. Soon, the tensions escalated. Hammurabi began by attacking a border region, Hanna, and with Babylonian forces to the south and north, Zimri Lim took defensive measures. These were not enough, given that when Mari itself was attacked, Babylon won a decisive and brutal victory. Instead of conquering it and absorbing it into his own empire, Hammurabi destroyed and sacked the city. Zimri Lim was likely killed in the attack on Mari, as he disappears from the record after this. After conquering Mari, Hammurabi moved on to several other nearby cities, in a period of conquest that lasted about half a decade. He then focused on the legal and judicial aspects of ruling, solidifying his empire, and putting Babylon at the center. Appointing his own governors to other sites of power secured his authority over them, and ensured that they answered to him. Citizens of these places, however, still had more local identities than otherwise. It is difficult to know Hammurabi as a person because few accounts from his contemporaries still exist. Like other rulers in a time of constantly changing allegiances, he rewarded loyalty and punished desertion within his army, and built up his power. He was known as Bani Matam, the Builder of the Land, due to his continued interest in building projects. Hammurabi's favorite gods appear to have been Marduk, the Patron of Babylon, Shemash, the Sun God, and Ishtar, the Fertility Goddess and Goddess of Growing Crops. His personal history is even more elusive. He had several wives, but their names are lost to history. He had at least three children. Samsu Iluna, his eldest child, would inherit his empire. However, most of what we know about him is through his deeds. It is not only for his empire that Hammurabi is remembered. His law code was one of his most important contributions to the historical record, influencing several later law codes, such as those set down by the Hebrew scribes, which came to be part of the Biblical Book of Exodus. It originally contained 282 laws, of which roughly 40 are now missing, erased by later rulers to make room to add their own. The law code was rediscovered in 1901 in Susa, the ancient capital of Elam. A team of French explorers, led by Jacques de Morton, found a massive steel containing the law code and translated it. The steel is made of black diorite and displays an image of a deity thought to be the god Shemash, with Hammurabi praying before him, demonstrating the king's role in dispensing justice, elevating him and his laws to a divine status. The code invokes the gods at the outset and the right of kings to rule and mete out justice in the land. Many laws would be considered harsh by our standards, but it was one of the first law codes to limit how much of punishment a person could be subject to. It also established the presumption of innocence, the first known law code to do so, in the first law on its list. Its inclusion of this principle, along with influencing later laws, shows the need for evidence in a legal system if it is to function in an even-handed way. Indeed, another law states that anyone making an accusation without evidence would be put to death. Several laws within the law code, particularly 196 and 200, have become famous in other contexts. Law 196 states, if a man put out the eye of another man, his own eye shall be put out, and law 200 applies the same to teeth. The shortened form of this, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, appears in Hebrew biblical law. For the most part, the law code concerns the amount of compensation to be paid for harm to others, the importance of oaths, payment for services, and the social strata that made up ancient Babylon. Status played a major part in how people were treated by the law, and the compensation due for a crime against any individual would depend on their standing. Many laws pertain to everyday life and govern the working life of citizens. In the epilogue of the code, attention is paid to the goal of justice and the rightness of law itself. The concern of both the code and its maker appears to have been to demonstrate his commitment to legal justice throughout his land. Hammurabi's law code only deals with civil law. So much is still unknown about the full history of legal proceedings in Babylon regarding military law and other types of law that would pertain to foreign policy. There has been much debate regarding the use of the code, as it would not have been used to decide cases, but instead took influence from cases that had already been decided. Hammurabi's rule ended with his death in 1750 BCE, but even in his lifetime he was revered as a god and saw children named in his honor. Today, his legacy endures in his code, a testament to its importance as most rulers of the period were best known as conquerors or military leaders, also a role he assumed. Still, throughout the millennia, his legal system has remained his most memorable contribution to history. To discover more about Hammurabi's role, his code, and his influence on Babylon, then check out our book, Hammurabi, A Captivating Guide to the Sixth King of the First Babylonian Dynasty, Including the Code of Hammurabi. It's available as an e-book, paperback, and audiobook. Also, grab your free mythology bundle e-book for free while still available. All links are in the description. If you enjoyed the video, please hit the like button and subscribe for more videos like this.