Hammurabi

Comparing the Code of Hammurabi with U.S. Law

The Code of Hammurabi dates back to the second millennium BC (approximately 1772 BC). Consisting of 282 laws, Hammurabi's Code became the rule for ancient Babylonians, just like today's Americans look to the Constitution for their rule. Although separated by thousands of years, Hammurabi's Code and the laws of the United States actually have some similarities. They are also, of course, different in many ways. This paper will examine the ancient Code of Hammurabi, compare it to the laws of the U.S., and show in what ways it is similar and in what ways it is dissimilar.

The Code of Hammurabi is noted for its severity. Eight of the first ten laws end with the assertion that the transgressor "shall be put to death" (Johns 144). While the death penalty is not foreign to the United States, it is not so...
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