c. 1754 BCEReputable source · 3 sourcesWell documented
Hammurabi's Code and the Glory of Babylon
On the timeline · around c. 1754 BCE ·
What happened
Hammurabi of Babylon united most of Mesopotamia and issued a famous code of nearly 300 laws, inscribed on a tall stone stele and topped by an image of the king before the sun god Shamash. Its penalties followed the principle of 'an eye for an eye.'
Why it matters
The Code of Hammurabi is the most complete and influential law code of the ancient world, publicly displayed so that, in Hammurabi's words, the strong might not oppress the weak.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Hammurabi · Reputable source
- World History Encyclopedia. Code of Hammurabi · Reputable source
- Musée du Louvre. Law Code of Hammurabi · Reputable source