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Perhaps the most remarkable and influential creation of its time, Hammurabi's code is the oldest set of laws known to exist. Hammurabi, king and chief priest of Babylonia from 1792-1750 B.C., expanded his empire greatly before focusing his energies toward wealth and justice for his people. He created a code protecting all classes of Babylonian society, including women and slaves. He sought protection of the weak from the powerful and the poor from the rich. The carving on the stone on which the code is written depicts Hammurabi receiving the divine laws from the sun god, the god most often associated with justice. This stone was unearthed by French archaeologists at Susa, Iraq (ancient Elam), in 1901-02. The black diorite rock is 2.4 m high and had been broken into three pieces.

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Hammurabi's Code is 44 columns of text, 28 paragraphs of which contain the actual code. There are 282 laws (possibly more have been rubbed off) that probably amend common Babylonian law rather than define it. It describes regulations for legal procedure, fixes rates on services performed in most branches of commerce and describes property rights, personal injury, and penalties for false testimony and accusations. It has no laws regarding religion.

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The Code of Hammurabi is significant because its creation allowed men, women, slaves, and all others to read and understand the laws that governed their lives in Babylon. It is unique in that laws of other civilizations were not written down, and thus could be manipulated to suite the rulers that dictated them. The Code is particularly just for its time. Although it follows the practice of "an eye for an eye", it does not allow for vigilante justice, but rather demands a trial by judges. It also glorifies acts of peace and justice done during Hammurabi's rule.

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It symbolizes not only the emergence of justice in the minds of men, but also man's rise above ignorance and barbarism toward the peaceful and just societies still pursued today. In the words of Hammurabi as carved on the stone, "Let any oppressed man who has a cause come into the presence of my statue as king of justice, and have the inscription on my stele read out, and hear my precious words, that my stele may make the case clear to him; may he understand his cause, and may his heart be set at ease!"

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it was known for the first code of laws

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What was the first known system of written law?

Code of Hammurabi was the first known written law.


What is Hammurabi is best known to history for?

282 laws or taxation


What is the significiance of Hammurabi's code?

We have codified laws that we attend to and the Hammurabi code was the first known laws codified into a code proven in history.


What is king Hammurabi best know for?

Hammurabi is best known for his code of law. It was the first known written list of laws.


What was Hammurabi known for?

Hammurabi was known for developing a wise and fair code of law.


What part did writing play in Hammurabi's rule?

The earliest known code of law was the Hammurabi code. It was the first laws codified together.


The oldest known legal system is contained in the?

the Code of Hammurabi contains the earliest of laws


Who is famous for having created the first written law?

Hammurabi is generally considered famous for having codified the first laws.


How did the Code of Hammurabi contribute to the development of civilization?

The Hammurabi code was the first set of codified laws as we known in history. Based on this fact you have the answer to your question.


Is The Code of Hammurabi is one of the first known bodies of law to survive and be available for study today?

The Code of Hammurabi is one of the first known bodies of law to survive and be available for study today. is this true?


What is a set of laws known as the ---- Hammurabi?

The Hammurabi code.


What are great facts about hammurabi?

Hammurabi is known for being the maker of the code of Hammurabi