1. DBQ - Document Based Questions
Hammurabi’s Code: Was It Just?

2. Overview Hammurabi’s Code: Was It just?
One of the world’s oldest sets of laws was written by Hammurabi king of Babylon in the 18th century BCE. Hammurabi’s Code is often studied to understand the values of ancient Mesopotamia, and also to understand the concept of justice. This Document Based Question explores the idea of fairness-what is “just”– by asking you to think about the punishments and rewards that made up Hammurabi’s Code. The Documents: Document A: The Stone Stele (“stee-lee”) Document B: Epilogue of the Code Document C: Family Law Document D: Property Law Document E: Personal – Injury Law

3. Hook Exercise: Hammurabi’s Code: Was It just?
Leaders throughout history have had to grapple with the task of creating just, or fair, laws. One such leader was Hammurabi, whose laws are the subject of this assignment. Hammurabi’s concern was creating just laws for the people of Babylonia 4,000 years ago.

4. Hook Exercise: Hammurabi’s Code: Was It just?
Task 1: With your group, talk through the two cases below and discuss the questions that follow. In each case, you will consider justice in three ways: Is the outcome fair to the accused? Is the outcome fair to the victim? Is the outcome in the best interest of the general society? Task 2 Pick one rule in your school. Then decide if it is just. Explain. Is it fair to the rule breaker? Is it fair to those who are harmed? Is it fair to the greater school community?

5. Hammurabi’s Code - DBQ Timeline
3500 BCE-Sumerians settle in southern Mesopotamia.
1900 BCE – Warriors from Babylonia conquer Sumer.
1792 BCE – Hammurabi becomes sixth Amorite king of Babylon.
1750 BCE – End of Hammurabi’s nearly 43 year rule
1600BCE – Assyrian invasion ends rule in Babylonia
323 BCE – Alexander The Great dies in Babylon after planning to make Babylon the capital of his empire.

6. Background Essay Questions Hammurabi’s Code: Was It just?
How many centuries ago did Hammurabi live? How long did he rule?
From Larsa to Mari, what was the approximate length of Babylonia from north to south?
What was the estimated population of Babylonia?
Into what three social classes was the population divided?
In general terms, what is Hammurabi’s Code?
Define these terms:
city-state, Babylonia, Mesopotamia, cuneiform, stele

7. DBQ Key Terms
City-State: An independent city, sometimes walled, and often including the territory around it.
Babylonia: The kingdom ruled by Hammurabi. It included a number of city-states and was located in Mesopotamia, along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
Mesopotamia: A region in the Middle East that included modern-day Iraq and sections of modern-day Turkey, Iran, and Syria. Note: In Greek, Mesopotamia means “between the rivers.”
Cuneiform: A kind of writing used in Sumer and Babylonia. Letters were carved into stone or soft clay with a stylus, which looked a bit like a chopstick.
Stele: An upright stone slab or pillar, often bearing an inscription

8. Understanding the Question Hammurabi’s Code: Was it Just?
What is the analytical question asked by this Document Based Question?
What terms in the question need to be defined?
Rewrite the question in your own words.

9. Pre-bucketing Reason #1 Just/Not Just Reason #2 Just/Not Just

10. Document A – analysis: The Stone stele (“stee-lee”)
What kind of writing was used to inscribe the code on the stele?
The code was divided into what three parts?
From where or whom does Hammurabi get the laws?
Is there any evidence in this document that can be used to argue that Hammurabi’s Code was just?
Is there any evidence in this document that can be used to argue that Hammurabi’s Code was not just?

11. Document b – analysis: epilogue of the code
According to Hammurabi, what was his purpose for having written these laws?
Who commanded Hammurabi to create this monument?
What does Hammurabi threaten will happen to any future Babylonian king who does not follow these laws?
How can you use this document to argue that Hammurabi’s Code was just?
How can you use this document to argue that Hammurabi’s Code was not just?

12. Document c – analysis: family law
In Law 129, what does it mean to “bind them and cast them into the water?”
In Law 168, what does it mean to “disinherit” a son?
Two crimes in the document result in physical punishment. What are those crimes? How might Hammurabi argue that the punishments were just?
Hammurabi said that his code was meant to protect the weak. Is there evidence in this document that the code did so?
Overall, are these laws regarding family just?

13. Document d – analysis: property law
In Law 21, what is the penalty for breaking into a home?
How might Hammurabi justify harsh punishment?
In Law 23, if the robber is not caught, who reimburses the victim for his or her loss?
How might Hammurabi have justified reimbursing the victim?
In Law 48, what is a creditor? Is Law 48 fair to creditors?
Overall, are these laws regarding property just?

14. Document e – analysis: Personal-Injury law
Examine laws 196 and How do you think Hammurabi would justify the different punishments for the same crime?
What is the meaning of “fruit of her womb”?
How might Hammurabi argue that laws 215 and 218 were just?
How could you use these laws about personal injury to argue that Hammurabi’s Code was not just?
Is justice absolute? That is, is a just punishment in 1800 BCE also a just punishment today? Explain your thinking.

15. Short-Constructed Responses
You will write 2 paragraphs with a minimum of 5 sentences each. These should include:
- Paragraph 1- “Hammurabi’s Code - Was it Just?” (Fair) Answer: Yes.
Include an introductory sentence, 3 supporting sentences using facts from 3 documents and a concluding sentence.
- Paragraph 2 – “Hammurabi’s Code - Was it Just?” (Fair)
Answer: No.

16. Hammurabi’s Code was just/not just because of its
Getting Ready to write
Task One: Bucketing
Look over all the documents and organize them into your final buckets. Write labels under each bucket and place the letters of the documents in the buckets where they belong. You can put a document in more than one bucket. That is called multi-bucketing, but you need a good reason to do so. Remember, your buckets are going to become your body paragraphs.
Task Two: Thesis Development and Road Map
On the chicken foot below, write your thesis and your road map. Your thesis is always an opinion that answers the Document Based Question. The road map is created from your bucket labels and lists the topic areas you will examine in order to prove your thesis.
Reason #1
Hammurabi’s Code was just/not just because of its
Reason #2
Reason #3

17. Pre-Bucketing Example Hammurabi’s Code was just because of its
Reason #1
Family Law
Just
Reason #2
Property Law
Just
Reason #3
Personal Injury Law
Just
Family law
Hammurabi’s Code was just because of its
Property law
Personal Injury law

18. Essay Outline
¶ 1 > Intro = Start with a broad topic, and work to a narrowed “thesis” statement. (3-5 sentences) ¶ 2 > Reason #1 just/not just = Give at least 2 supporting details with examples for each. (5-7 sentences) ¶ 3 > Reason #2 just/not just = Give at least 2 supporting details with examples for each. (5-7 sentences) ¶ 4 > Reason #3 just/not just = Give at least 2 supporting details with examples for each. (5-7 sentences) ¶ 5> Conclusion = Re-state “thesis” statement and main ideas in a NEW WAY, leave the reader with final message of the paper. (3-5 sentences)