Hammurabi

Hammurabi was the sixth king of the First Dynasty of Babylon, who ruled from c. 1792 to c. 1750 BCE. He was the son of Sin-Muballit, who abdicated due to failing health. Hammurabi inherited a small city-state in central Mesopotamia, but he expanded his kingdom by conquering the city-states of Larsa, Eshnunna, and Mari. He also defeated the Elamites and the Assyrians and brought almost all of Mesopotamia under his control. Hammurabi is best known for issuing the Code of Hammurabi, one of the oldest and most complete written legal codes in human history. He claimed to have received it from Shamash, the god of justice. The code consists of 282 laws that cover various aspects of life, such as property, crime, contracts, marriage, family, and commerce. The code is based on the principle of lex talionis, or the law of retaliation, which prescribes punishments that are proportional to the harm inflicted. The code also shows a concern for social justice and the protection of the weak and the oppressed. Hammurabi was revered as a great ruler and a lawgiver by his subjects and by later generations. He built temples, canals, fortifications, and monuments to celebrate his achievements and his patron deity Marduk. He also promoted Babylonian culture and literature throughout his empire. He died around 1750 BCE and was succeeded by his son Samsu-iluna.