The rule of law, established under Hammurabi, was the idea that
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the law should govern all members of society equally, including both the ruler and the ruled, and that the law should be written down and applied consistently. This concept of the rule of law was one of the earliest legal principles in human history.
To understand the rule of law under Hammurabi, we need to look at the Code of Hammurabi. Hammurabi was the sixth king of the Babylonian Empire, which existed around 1750 BCE. The Code of Hammurabi is one of the oldest known legal codes and was created by Hammurabi to govern the society under his rule.
The Code of Hammurabi consists of 282 laws that cover a wide range of topics, including commerce, contracts, property rights, family law, and criminal justice. It is important to note that the laws were written in cuneiform, a system of writing on clay tablets, and displayed publicly for all to see. This ensured transparency and accessibility of the law to the people.
The rule of law was a fundamental principle of the Code of Hammurabi. It meant that everyone in society, regardless of their social status, was subject to the same laws. This included not only ordinary citizens but also the king himself. The law was meant to be applied impartially and without favoritism.
The Code of Hammurabi also emphasized the concept of proportionate justice. Punishments were based on the principle of "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." This meant that punishments were to be proportional to the crime committed.
It should be noted, however, that the rule of law under Hammurabi was not necessarily the same as the modern concept of the rule of law. There were still disparities in the treatment of different social classes, and punishments were often harsh.
To understand more about the rule of law under Hammurabi, one can study the Code of Hammurabi itself. Translations and interpretations of the code are available in various books, articles, and online resources. By examining the laws and their applications, one can gain a deeper understanding of the rule of law in ancient Babylonian society.