12 tables Hammurabi's Code

All societies today follow strict rules of conduct to regulate society. These rules of conduct are known as laws. If we did not have these laws, the world would have no order what so ever. We, as Americans, follow our law system very law closely. If an American citizen were to break the law, they would be punished. Depending on the severity of the crime, the person might get a simple slap on the hand, pay a small or large fine, or possibly be thrown in jail. If the crime that the person commits involves killing another person, they might possibly be put to death themselves. Other societies throughout the world follow their own unique law systems. Although the law systems in different societies are unique to their own culture, they are very closely knit because they all share the same purpose. Two of the earliest and most successful written laws are the Code of Hammurabi from the Mesopotamian period and the Twelve Tables of Law from the Roman Republic era. Without these two previous written codes of law, our law systems today might have been completely altered.
The Code of Hammurabi and the Twelve Tables of Law have not been around foreve

The Code of Hammurabi and the Twelve Tables are both very similar and dissimilar to each other in numerous ways. Both of these codes of law were originally established to regulate society. Hammurabi’s code of laws was established much before the Twelve Tables. Hammurabi’s code was based largely on the dominant religion of the Mesopotamian culture, whereas the Twelve Tables was not based on religion. If anyone were to break Hammurabi’s code, they would be dealt with harshly. The punishment for breaking a law seems a bit harsher under the code of Hammurabi than the Twelve Tables. Hammurabi’s code made a clear distinction between three separate classes, whereas the Twelve Tables focused on equal protection under the law. Many of Hammurabi’s laws were unfair to the lower class. Another distinguishing factor between these two laws is that Hammurabi received his laws from the sun god, while the Roman law was derived from the people of the republic. A striking aspect of these laws that is similar is that both of the codes were borrowed by other societies. The Babylonian law system was borrowed and altered by the Hebrews, while the Twelve Tables was borrowed by many societies all over the West.

In looking at these two separate codes of law, I can see many similarities and differences to our present day law systems, as well. I am very happy with the current American law system because it treats everyone fairly. If I were to live in either the Mes