Hammurabi's Code - An Overview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hammurabi's Code - An Overview - Essay Example Various parts of the law were written in systematic way so that reading of the Code by the people was easily understandable and people could derive what was expected of them from the written laws. The code was inscribed upon a black stone monument, eight feet high, and clearly meant to be erected for reading by his people. This famous stone-carving was found in the year 1901, not in Babylon, but in a city of the Persian mountains, as some later victor must have taken it in victory. The code starts and finishes with calls to the gods. It shows how regard for gods was mandatory before reading a law code although the prayers were mainly curses for non-abiders of the law (Horne, 1915). The code commands in lucid and sure strokes the making of society. The judge who commits mistakes in a law case is to be ousted from his position and rank forever, and heavily penalized. The falsified witness is to be beheaded. In fact, all the serious crimes are awarded death. For instance, if a man const ructs a house poorly, and the structure comes down and kills the owner, the builder is to be beheaded. If the owner's son is killed, then the builder's son would be beheaded. The Hebrews imbibed from here the law of "an eye for an eye.† These serious retributive punishments do not count excuses or clarifications, but only of the truth--with one noticeable exception. An offender was permitted to drown himself into "the river," the Euphrates. Clearly, people were not familiar with swimming; if the waves brought the culprit to the river banks alive he was pronounced not-guilty, if he could not swim back he was declared guilty. It shows Hammurabi’s belief in the justice of the reigning gods, although a bit childishly, it was implanted in the minds of people (Horne, 1915). There are thousands of rulings of the ancient times based on Babylonian laws, the so-called "contracts," including a vast range of deeds, conveyances, bonds, receipts, accounts and, most critical of all, t he actual legal verdicts awarded by the judges in the law courts. It helped in conserving the so-called "Sumerian Family Laws† (Johns, 1911). One can not find any symptoms of tribal tradition from the law of the Code. It is a ruler’s law; similar to self-help, bloody fights, marriage by seizure is missing; though family unity, district duty, and difficult times – these ancient traits are visible. The king is a kind-hearted ruler who can be available to all his people, he is equally capable and ready to safeguard the oppressed against the noblest oppressor. The royalty can excuse such a high profile culprit only if there is no resentment among the people for the oppressor. The judges are regularly observed and appeal is permitted. There are feudal holdings, masters of the levy, and police. There exists a postal system. There is free movement by people from Babylon to the coast of the Mediterranean. Women hold a rank of respect and reverence in the Hammurabi code ( Johns, 1911). The Code did not just personify the customs of that time or safeguard ancient law. The law-abiding citizens and litigation had a record of centuries in the temple stores in each city, huge enough, of past decisions and copies of judicial awards, getting mixed with the city traditions. The ever-prevailing habit of writing and practice of written deeds even more

Student action plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Student action plan - Essay Example d kind of living that is dedicated towards a reduction on the use and exploitation of the natural resources as well as personal resources in order to save them (Fiksel 5330). There are many importances of sustainability and to an individual and the community; it guarantees a clean and healthy environment. One of the goals of sustainability is reduction of pollution by using recyclable resources so that they can be absorbed back into nature. When inorganic materials are used especially in industries, the by-products from manufacturing accumulate in rivers, soils and air. Accumulation of these materials that are not biodegradable leads to pollution of the environment which causes health problems. On a large scale, sustainability is important to a nation in terms of production and feeding its population in that it enables governments to continue sustaining its citizens. In the long run, future generations will be able to access these same natural resources which have been recycled (5331). My educational and professional goals revolve around understanding the basic principles of environmental sustainability which is important for life sustenance on earth. In this regards, the ecosystem knowledge learned in this class is important for application in my environmental career in future. Take for instance the design and successful implementation of sustainable systems is predicated upon the knowledge on how ecosystems work for continuity purposes. It would be my pleasure to study the nature in future so that I can fully understand how it responds to changes of anthropological impacts within it (Fiksel 5333). Minimization of anthropological impacts on the natural ecosystem and organisms living within it entails living a sustainable lifestyle. A sustainable lifestyle advocates for a conservative approach to the use of natural and personal resources. By living such a lifestyle, the self ceases to be important and much attention is given to our surroundings in terms of both