Why Are The Four Law Codes So Important To Western Civilization

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Before current times, there were four law codes that stood out and were very important to western civilization because they were well known and well enforced. The Code of Hammurabi, The Book of the Dead Negative Confessions, and The Ten Commandments, three of the earliest written law codes known to man, played a large role in the development of western civilization and contain rules that are still followed to this day. The Magna Carta is the last of these four law codes that took place much later than the original three but was equally important when it came to western civilization. The Code of Hammurabi, The Book of the Dead Negative Confessions, and The Ten Commandments are all similar amongst each other yet different from the Magna Carta …show more content…

The Code of Hammurabi originated from ancient Babylon, current Iraq, while The Book of the Dead Negative Confessions was from Egypt, and The Ten Commandments originated in the Sinai Peninsula, in current day Saudi Arabia, which are all near each other. “They called Babylon by his illustrious name, made it great on earth, and founded an everlasting kingdom in it, whose foundations are laid so solidly as those of heaven and earth” (“The Code of Hammurabi”, 1780 B.C.). The fact that the Code of Hammurabi came from Iraq, neighbor country to the origins of The Book of the Dead Negative Confessions and The Ten Commandments, shows that their location makes them similar. Because the Magna Carta came from England and not near where the other law codes originated from, this document differs from the other three by having to meet its area’s needs and no other areas’. "The city of London shall enjoy all its ancient liberties and free customs, both by land and by water” (“Magna Carta”, 1225). The location of where the law codes govern affects what the laws will be which is why the three law codes differ from the Magna Carta and share very few similarities. Originating from certain areas is not the only thing that shows the similarities and differences among The Code of Hammurabi, The Book of the Dead Negative Confessions, The Ten …show more content…

Many of the laws in The Book of the Dead Negative Confessions are similar or the same as the laws that are in The Ten Commandments. “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” (“The Ten Commandments”, 1450 B.C.). “I have not falsely accused anyone” (“The Book of the Dead Negative Confessions”, 1991 B.C.). Although the phrases are worded differently, they both cover the same rule and alongside many of the other similar rules. The Code of Hammurabi also has a few of its rules that match with those from The Book of the Dead Negative Confessions and The Ten Commandments while the Magna Carta has none that match. “If any one ensnare another, putting a ban upon him, but he cannot prove it, then he that ensnared him shall be put to death” (“The Code of Hammurabi”, 1792 B.C.). The three law codes all have laws that have the same meaning which makes them similar but that does not mean that the Magna Carta is unimportant. Besides the three law codes originating from neighboring locations and the three law codes having similar laws, there is one more reason that proves that the Magna Carta is different from the other three law

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