Week Four Blog Post

Writing was an important technological advancement that was made in the Ancient Era. Without writing, we wouldn't have literature, astronomy, philosophy, and so much more important additions to human life. Writing is a helpful way for historians to see how ancient people lived, too. Ancient people often used writing to help preserve oral traditions and stories. Though they were usually only written by upper-class men, these ancient writings could tell historians and people nowadays how ancient peoples lived, viewed their societies, and thought about their place in their known world. 

The introductory question that I chose to answer was related to The Law Code of Hammurabi (ca. 1800 B.C.). It asked: "If you knew nothing else about ancient Mesopotamia, what could you conclude from the Code of Hammurabi about the economy and society of this civilization in the eighteenth century B.C.E.? What kind of economy prevailed in the region? What distinct social groups are mentioned in the code? What rights did women enjoy and to what restrictions were they subject?"

Well, I don't really know much about ancient Mesopotamia aside from what I've read in the text. So reading actual writing from the time was very interesting and eye-opening to what life must have really been like. In terms of the economy, people paid others to transport their goods from place to place. Transactions like these included the process of giving receipts, which I thought was pretty cool. Also, they had some form of banking, or so it seemed. "122. If any one give another silver, gold, or anything else to keep, he shall show everything to some witness, draw up a contract, and then hand it over for safe keeping..." This sounds to me like another person has to be present during the transaction to do record keeping.

Ancient Mesopotamian society seemed pretty restrictive to women and extremely strict with their rules and laws. "An eye for an eye" was a big theme that I picked up on when reading through the laws. Slavery was also allowed and probably encouraged in ancient society.

The social groups mentioned in the code were slaves, criminals, women, and the poor.

Women didn't enjoy many rights and were subject to tons of restrictions. The rights that I did notice included: 
1. When a man runs away from his wife, she doesn't have to go back with him.
2. Wives with children get some of the husband's property if he chooses to divorce her.
3. Sick wives will be taken care of by their husbands, even though the husband can remarry if he chooses.

The restrictions included:
1. If a woman's husband brings home another woman and she doesn't have sex with her, she's not a wife to him.
2. Women cannot have sex with another man (they can't even be accused).
3. "Women of God" can't open taverns.