2.3 5
Short-Answer Questions:
1) How does the prelude exhibit theocratic government (theocracy) in Mesopotamia?
2) How did discrimination by classes and gender exist under Hammurabi's laws? Use laws from the
text as evidence. (NOTE: you cannot simply put a number; you must explain HOW the law
demonstrates class or gender discrimination)
3) Which was worse: committing a crime against a regular person or against the government? Use
laws from the text as evidence. (NOTE: as above, you cannot simply put a number; describe HOW
each law shows which was worse)
4) Does the Code of Hammurabi seem more concerned with punishing criminals, rehabilitating
criminals or preventing future crimes? Give laws as evidence for your answer.
5) What criticism would people today make of the laws and punishments in the Code of Hammurabi?
Based on these excerpts, what criticisms do you think people from Mesopotamia would make of
our laws?
6) Research and explain an example of laws that demonstrate legal discrimination based on class or
gender (this can be in the US or from around the world).