Why was Hammurabi Code an integral part of Mesopotamian culture and history?
One key thing to know when considering Hammurabi’s “Code” is that it is NOT the first “law code” in Mesopotamian history. Rather, it stands in a line with a number of earlier Sumerian codes (though, unfortunately, these are not as completely preserved). Here are a handful of things this “Code” seem to reveal about Hammurabi and the society in which he lived: 1) The fact that Hammurabi was following the pattern of several earlier (Sumerian) rulers in issuing this “code” suggests he was NOT trying to establish something brand new (even though the prologue brags a bit about his surpassing his predecessors). He saw himself as much like these earlier rulers, and was declaring his legitimacy and suitedness to rule — since he was a good “shepherd” looking after his people. (This image, emphasized in H’s “prologue” to the code, was a common Mesopotamian image for good rulers.) 2) The fact that H. published it at the BEGINNING of his reign –those other rulers did so LATE in their rule– sugge
