Social Classes

and

The Code of Hammurabi

Mrs. Rolince

North Syracuse Junior High School

jrolince@nscsd.org

Introduction:

Imagine the year is 1750 BC and you are farmer living in the ancient river valley civilization of Mesopotamia. You have lived along the Tigris River peacefully for 25 years and have made a steady living farming corn. Recently, rainstorms have flooded the river valley and your crops were destroyed. You and your family are starving and have no means for obtaining food! In your desperation you decide to steal food from a neighboring farm that was fortunate enough to survive the flooding. You sneak out at night to collect enough food to feed your family for the week. As you try to sneak on the neighbor’s farm, the neighbor and one of his slaves catches you. You begin fighting and end up knocking out your neighbor’s front teeth and the slave’s right eye. In Mesopotamia assault is a serious crime and you now have to await your sentencing according to the Code of Hammurabi…

You may wonder who this Hammurabi is and what his code is all about? Hammurabi was the King of Mesopotamia and was one of the first rulers to have a written set of laws that could be publicly viewed, read and followed. The code was carved on a black stone monument and displayed for all to see.

Having a set of written laws don’t seem so bad, right?

WRONG!

Have you every heard the saying “An Eye for An Eye?” That saying is based on the Code of Hammurabi and the punishments given for certain crimes (especially assault). Now, are you anxious about the punishment that awaits you…

Task:

Your sentencing is coming up quick and you know it’s going to be bad! In order to save your skin, you are going to have to come up with a new law for assault. This new assault law will need to be presented before the judge in the form of a virtual poster made on Glogster. Your law will need a new punishment, as well as reasons why your law and punishment is more suitable for the crime you committed. To do this in time, you will need to use the six steps of the PPA. These steps will help you to analyze, interpret and redesign the Code of Hammurabi before the judge can issue your original punishments! You like having teeth and eyes, right?!?!

Process/Resources:

1. Use the following resources to complete Step 1 of the PPA. Here you will be exploring the legal system in Mesopotamia, as well as the social problems within it.

Code of Hammurabi Background Resource:

· Code of Hammurabi Background 1

· Code of Hammurabi Background 2

2. Use the following resources to complete Step 2 of the PPA. Here you will be finding evidence of the social problems that existed within the Code of Hammurabi. Be sure to find specific laws that prove that these problems existed in this legal system (Hint: Analyze Laws 196-201)

Code of Laws Resource:

· Hammurabi's Laws

· Hammurabi's Laws and Explanations

3. Use the following resource to complete Step 3 of the PPA. Here you will be exploring why social problems existed within the Hammurabi’s code:

See “Legal Content” Section of

· Social Classes in Mesopotamia

4. Use the following resource, as well as the ones above, to complete Step 4 of the PPA. Here you will be evaluating the Code of Hammurabi by looking at its advantages and disadvantages:

· Advantages and Disadvantages of the Code

5. Using the information you have collected so far, you will now complete Step 5 of the PPA. Here you will redesign the laws and punishments for the crime you have committed (assault).

6. Now that you have brainstormed some news laws and punishments, you will need to decide which new law you will present to the judge. Use Step 6 of the PPA to help you complete this.

7. Use all of your new knowledge to create a Glogster (virtual poster) to present to the judge (the class). Use the rubric below to make sure that the right information is in your Glogster. Remember, you need to convince the judge (the class) not to implement the original punishment that Hammurabi’s Code calls for.

Evaluation:

Excellent (+5)

Very Good (+4)

Fair (+3)

Poor (+2)

PPA Worksheets

All worksheets are thoroughly completed with an excellent understanding of the social problem, its causes and the public policy that arose

Most worksheets (4+) are completed with a good understanding of the social problem, its causes and the policy that arose.

Some worksheets (3+) are completed with a fair understanding of the social problem, its causes, and the policy that arose.

Few worksheets (less than 3) are completed with a poor understanding of the social problem, its causes, and the policy that arose.

Glogster

(Content)

Glogster includes accurate information in all of the following categories:

- Hammurabi’s original laws relating to assault and their punishments

- New assault law and its punishment

- 3 or more reasons why the new law and punishment should be accepted

Glogster includes information in all of the following categories but contains some inaccuracies

- Hammurabi’s original assault laws and their punishments

- New assault law and its punishment

- 3 or more reasons why the new law and punishment should be accepted

Glogster is missing information from one of the following categories:

- Hammurabi’s original assault laws and their punishments

- New assault law and its punishment

- 3 or more reasons why the new law and punishment should be accepted

Glogster is missing information and contains inaccuracies in the following categories:

- Hammurabi’s original assault laws and their punishments

- New assault law and its punishment

- 3 or more reasons why the new law and punishment should be accepted

Glogster

(Visual Appeal)

Glogster includes all of the following:

-Colorful background

- Visuals (3 or more)

- Legible font

- Organization that is easy to follow

- Category Titles for all information

Glogster is missing 1 of the following:

-Colorful background

- Visuals (3 or more)

- Legible font

- Organization that is somewhat easy to follow

- Category Titles for most information

Glogster is missing 2 of the following:

-Colorful background

- Visuals (3 or more)

- Legible font

- Organization that is easy to follow

- Category Titles for all information

Glogster is missing 3 or more of the following:

-Colorful background

- Visuals (2 or more)

- Legible font

- Organization that is easy to follow

- Category Titles for all information

Oral Presentation

Speaks very clearly, presents all Glogster information and maintains audience attention.

Speaks very clearly, presents most of the Glogster information, and maintains audience attention.

Speaks somewhat clearly, presents most of the Glogster information and maintains some audience interest.

Does not speak clearly, does not present most of the Glogster information. Does a poor job of maintaining interest of audience.

Standards:

This Webquest responds to the followings curriculum standards:

Social Studies: Standard 2

v The student will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments and turning points in world history, and examine the broad sweep of history from a variety of perspectives.

English Language Arts: Standard 1

v Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.

English Language Arts: Standard 4

v Students will read, write, listen, and speak for social interaction.

Conclusion:

The Code of Hammurabi was the one of the first set of written laws created by mankind. Their creation set the foundation for every legal system, including the one we have today. Because these laws reflected the society of the time, the punishments issued by these laws are viewed now days as harsh and barbaric. Furthermore, the Code’s punishments emphasize the social inequality that existed in Mesopotamia at that time. Despite these issues, the Code of Hammurabi was highly effective in its time and created social order in one of the world’s first civilizations. Imagine what life would be like if Hammurabi’s code was never instituted…