What are some of the pros and cons about Hammurabi's code of laws?

Answer 1

There were different punishments depending on the social class of the offender. Also, while it gave some rights to women (one of the first attempts in history at doing so), men still had far more rights.

Answer 2

Positive Sides:

1. Hammurabi's Code was formed on the basis of modern law.
2. Women's right was recognised.
3. People dared not to file false cases.
4. More or less nobody could escape from the rule.

Negative Sides:

1. All were not treated equally by the law.
2. There was hardly any correction.
3. Wealth was considered more valuable than human life.
4. People could be punished for unexpected crime.

Answer 3

Pros

1. They were written and did not allow the king to make a new law in seconds.

2. It was hard to change the law, and everybody had to agree on the law.

3. People knew what the penalty was for breaking the law.

4. Lower crime rates.

5. The laws were visible so that everyone could see them.

Cons

1. The upper classes still had more freedom than the lower classes

2. It was hard to change or add a law.

3. The penalties were too harsh (most penalties were death)

4. The were easy to misinterpret (Ex. One law states "If a man breaks into a house, he shall be killed before the breach and buried there." Say that a man, Kevin, invites another man, Leo, over and when that Leo comes, Kevin shoots him and buries him. Nobody can say that was wrong because there is no proof that Leo didn't break into Kevin's house.)

5. The laws did not specifically limit Hammurabi himself.

Hope this helps(: