Hammurabi's Political System

The state of Mesopotamia during Hammurabi’s reign went through a political, social, and cultural structure revolution. Unlike early kings of Mesopotamia, Hammurabi sought to consolidate power through a new political system known as Hammurabi’s Code. This system also brought about changes in the social structure as it supported the king’s authority in all matters throughout the state as well as implementing a new economy. Private economy, a significant part of the social structure, gave people the ability to pay taxes through material goods instead of money. Instead, the entrepreneurs of the private economy would trade those goods for silver and then pay the state’s taxes. For cultural changes, public art and heroic tales such as The Epic of Gilgamesh came about and lived on as

They received the same consideration as men in matters of marriage and household.

Lastly, law one hundred ninety-six says, “If a man destroy the eye of a man (gentleman), they shall destroy his eye.” (Pollard 86) This basically says that whatever violence one should commit against someone, that person has the option to return said violence without consequence.

While somewhat vengeful, it is logical for the era. Like the previous laws, it stands in a progressive light, if only through its acknowledgement of the equality of men, despite their situations. It does, however, follow the more bloody and less policed lifestyle of the late

Mesopotamian era.

Overall, Hammurabi’s Code can be said to be fair. Naturally, it must be looked through a certain, ancient lens, but the laws can be said to be fair for the era. The era could be thought of as a land being ruled more through politics than conquering, considering the extensive law code. It was not simply a land ruled by a distant king. Instead, it was ruled by a just king with specific laws for a wide set of situations. Conclusively, the late Mesopotamian era was perhaps one of the most well-ruled