Hammurabi's Code
The 6th Babylonian king, Hammurabi, created a set of laws for the Mesopotamians to follow. He had desired to stabilize the Mesopotamian government, and enforcing Hammurabi's Code was his solution. These laws were their rules to live by, and often came with a severe consequence if they were disobeyed. An example is "If anyone is committing a robery and is caught, then he shall be put to death." This is the 22nd law on Hammurabi's Code. These were the first set of documented laws ever created and were the origin of many laws to come in future civilizations.
Religion and Politics
Religion and politics are what shaped the Mesopotamian Government. These two areas worked together to create laws, and laws were what held the government together. Since religion was so important to the Mesopotamians, priests were given most of the power in this government. They had the authority to make decisions regarding the land, farming, trade, and even war. Priests basically became the leaders of the Mesopotamian government because they were thought so highly of.
Influences/Evolution of the Mesopotamian Government
The government of Mesopotamia somewhat resembled a democracy. They elected certain people to run their government, similar to how democracies function in our modern day. Although priests had high authority, the Mesopotamians also chose leaders, such as King Hammurabi, the 6th Babylonian King. This was the first form of a democracy, (and government), which has shaped governments throughout the world.
The 6th Babylonian king, Hammurabi, created a set of laws for the Mesopotamians to follow. He had desired to stabilize the Mesopotamian government, and enforcing Hammurabi's Code was his solution. These laws were their rules to live by, and often came with a severe consequence if they were disobeyed. An example is "If anyone is committing a robery and is caught, then he shall be put to death." This is the 22nd law on Hammurabi's Code. These were the first set of documented laws ever created and were the origin of many laws to come in future civilizations.
Religion and Politics
Religion and politics are what shaped the Mesopotamian Government. These two areas worked together to create laws, and laws were what held the government together. Since religion was so important to the Mesopotamians, priests were given most of the power in this government. They had the authority to make decisions regarding the land, farming, trade, and even war. Priests basically became the leaders of the Mesopotamian government because they were thought so highly of.
Influences/Evolution of the Mesopotamian Government
The government of Mesopotamia somewhat resembled a democracy. They elected certain people to run their government, similar to how democracies function in our modern day. Although priests had high authority, the Mesopotamians also chose leaders, such as King Hammurabi, the 6th Babylonian King. This was the first form of a democracy, (and government), which has shaped governments throughout the world.