Why did Babylon insist on harsh punishments for crime?
It is a common misconception that Babylonian laws were overtly
harsh. For example, in most societies those days many crimes that
in Babylon would mean that the criminal had to compensate for the
damage caused/property stolen (usually tenfold) - would mean that
the perpetrator would instantly be put to death. Though in case if
the criminal had nothing to pay with, he'd be executed. One could
say that they were not especially harsh for the time, instead were
more fair and just than most.
Babylonian laws were very advanced for their time, Code of
Hammurabi has one of the earliest examples of the idea of
presumption of innocence, and also gives right for both the accuser
and accused to be able to present evidence.
Code of Hammurabi also recognizes importance of intent. For
example, person accidentally causing death of another person would
only be fined, and not to be put to death himself.