Babylonian law in the context of "History of Iraq"

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⭐ Core Definition: Babylonian law

Babylonian law is a subset of cuneiform law that has received particular study due to the large amount of archaeological material that has been found for it. So-called "contracts" exist in the thousands, including a great variety of deeds, conveyances, bonds, receipts, accounts, and most important of all, actual legal decisions given by the judges in the law courts. Historical inscriptions, royal charters and rescripts, dispatches, private letters and the general literature afford welcome supplementary information. Even grammatical and lexicographical texts contain many extracts or short sentences bearing on law and custom. The so-called "Sumerian Family Laws" are preserved in this way.

Other cultures involved with ancient Mesopotamia shared the same common laws and precedents extending to the form of contacts that Kenneth Kitchen has studied and compared to the form of contracts in the Bible with particular note to the sequence of blessings and curses that bind the deal. The Maxims of Ptahhotep and Sharia Law, also include certifications for professionals like doctors, lawyers and skilled craftsmen which prescribe penalties for malpractice very similar to the code of Hammurabi.

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👉 Babylonian law in the context of History of Iraq

Iraq, a country located in West Asia, largely coincides with the ancient region of Mesopotamia, often referred to as the cradle of civilization. The history of Mesopotamia extends back to the Lower Paleolithic period, with significant developments continuing through the establishment of the Caliphate in the late 7th century AD, after which the region became known as Iraq. Within its borders lies the ancient land of Sumer, which emerged between 6000 and 5000 BC during the Neolithic Ubaid period. Sumer is recognized as the world's earliest civilization, marking the beginning of urban development, written language, and monumental architecture. Iraq's territory also includes the heartlands of the Akkadian, Neo-Sumerian, Babylonian, Neo-Assyrian, and Neo-Babylonian empires, which dominated Mesopotamia and much of the Ancient Near East during the Bronze and Iron Ages.

Iraq was a center of innovation in antiquity, producing early written languages, literary works, and significant advancements in astronomy, mathematics, law, and philosophy. This era of indigenous rule ended in 539 BC when the Neo-Babylonian Empire was conquered by the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great, who declared himself the "King of Babylon." The city of Babylon, the ancient seat of Babylonian power, became one of the key capitals of the Achaemenid Empire.

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Babylonian law in the context of Middle Assyrian Laws

Assyrian law, also known as the Middle Assyrian Laws (MAL) or the Code of the Assyrians, was an ancient legal code developed between 1450 and 1250 BCE in the Middle Assyrian Empire. It was very similar to Sumerian and Babylonian law, although the penalties for offenses were generally more brutal. The first copy of the code to come to light, dated to the reign of Tiglath-Pileser I (r. 1114–1076 BCE), was discovered in the course of excavations by the German Oriental Society (1903–1914). Three Assyrian law collections have been found to date. Punishments such as the cropping of ears and noses was common, as it was in the Code of Hammurabi, which was composed several centuries earlier. Murder was punished by the family being allowed to decide the death penalty for the murderer.

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Babylonian law in the context of Repudiation (marriage)

Repudiation is a formal or informal action in which a husband leaves his wife in a certain culture and religions. For example:

  • In Islam, a talaq divorce allows a man to divorce his spouse (in Arabic, talaq), otherwise known as the formula of repudiation.
  • In Babylonian law a husband could repudiate his wife, at the cost of returning the dowry.
  • Repudiation is also a concept that existed in the Roman law.
  • In India, Section 13(2)(iv) of the Hindu Marriage Act and Section 2(vii) of the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939 gave young wives the option, within time limits, while Section 3(3) of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 gave both husbands and wives the choice, as well as a little more time to exercise it. Inconsistencies in the law are an issue in repudiation of marriage due to different age requirements.
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LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← History of Iraq ← Middle Assyrian Laws ← Repudiation (marriage)
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Babylonia → Cuneiform law → Deed → Conveyancing → Inscription → Royal charter → Rescript → Lexicographical → Kenneth Kitchen → The Maxims of Ptahhotep → Islamic bioethics →