The Code of Hammurabi and the origins of ancient law

Hammurabi, Agricultural Revolution, Zoroastrianism

Hammurabi, Agriculture, Zoroastrianism

The Code of Hammurabi

Justice and the law is not a new concept, though throughout the millennia, both have evolved to what is today our modern political system, namely that of the municipal courts and the branches of government involved within nations. It is clear, however, that many of the concepts and ideas that are still being used today have stemmed from a much older doctrine, one that's been imagined around 4,000 years back into our primitive past. Such is the case of the Code of Hammurabi, a doctrine carved in cuneiform around 2200 B.C. In his ancient Babylonian kingdom, Hammurabi devised a rigid class-structure that gave rise to the "series of practical laws to bring about justice (Blaise, J. 2009). The Code has outlasted Hammurabi's life, and the legacy is quite evident in modern society.

From archaeological finds, it has been seen that Hammurabi's laws sought to create a moral structure for citizens of Babylon to adhere to. Hundreds of years after Hammurabi's own life had already passed, evidence of a Babylonian proverb emerged which had been derived from the "eye-for-an-eye, tooth-for-a-tooth" doctrine that had been written centuries past: "If you go and take the field of an enemy, the enemy will come and take your field" (Blaise, J. 2009). The code -- a cumulative set of 282 laws -- established a society where the people were depended upon to respect one's leader, and in turn, the leader provides for the people; this mindset might even have been the start of English feudalism in 1066, where monarchy financed its vassals, who in turn swore fealty to their ruler. Even today's medicine is involved, wherein the Code of Hammurabi "set out for the first time the concept of civil and criminal liability for improper and negligent medical care" (Blaise, J. 2009). Hammurabi's code had even set forth the beginnings of modern day's governmental systems, namely the bureaucracy within society.

Zoroastrianism and Religion

Perhaps Zarathustra had not envisioned such a worldly influence of his founded religion when he and his society priests worshipped it during the B.C. period. Regardless of when he started this movement of Zoroastrianism (for there is still dispute as to when this prophet was born to begin with), it had undoubtedly spread and influenced many of the religions of different cultures today. With an ancient background, it is no surprise that Zoroastrianism is one of the "oldest living religions in the world" (Stausberg, M. 2008). And while the religion itself has become a minority -- found mostly in Western India and Iran, as well as minor factions in the U.S., England, and Australia -- the ideas that have stemmed from Zoroastrianism have been absorbed into various religious orders, including but not limited to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

For instance, the Ancient Greeks have observed that Zoroastrianism was "the archetype of the dualistic view of the world and of man's destiny," where "man must enlist because of his capacity of free choice" (Duchesne, Guillemin, J. 2006). The constant battle of good and evil has been a philosophic and theistic issue among many religions like Christianity and Judaism. The religion itself -- while mirroring the polytheistic religion of the ancient Greeks, Latins, and Indians -- sought to unify "under the worship of one supreme god" (Stausberg, M. 2008). On the other hand, the society itself is the opposite of Christianity, wherein while Christianity itself sought to purify through the use of celibacy and fasting during ritualistic phases, Zoroastrianism sought purification in not fasting and sexual offerings during ritualistic phases. Purity, however, has been indicated as similar to these two religions; Zoroastrianism actually condoned the purity in celibacy and fasting in day-to-day life.

Resources

Blaise, Joseph (2009). "Hammurabi's Code," Clio History Journal. Web.

Duchesne-Guillemin, Jacques (2006). "Zoroastrianism: Relation to other religions," Encyclopaedia Britannica (Online ed.), retrieved 2006-05-31

Harlan, Jack R. (1992). Crops & Man: Views on Agricultural Origins ASA, CSA, Madison, WI. Web.

Stausberg, M. (2008). On the State and Prospects of the Study of Zoroastrianism. Numen: International Review For The History Of Religions, 55(5), 561-600. doi:10.1163/156852708X310536