sixth king reigning according preceded father failing health extended control military campaigns known code earliest surviving codes law recorded history derives term paternal reign conquests dynasty king city state inherited power father largely ruled city states central southern plains waged war control fertile agricultural land cultures existed culture gained degree prominence classes middle_east kings came founded relatively minor controlled little territory outside city overshadowed older larger powerful kingdoms century founding father begun consolidate rule small area south central time reign conquered minor city states ascended throne king minor kingdom midst complex situation powerful kingdom controlled upper controlled river delta east lay powerful kingdom regularly invaded forced tribute small states southern northern king inherited centuries old colonies expanded territory levant central death somewhat fragment empire decades reign peaceful power undertake series public works including city walls defensive purposes expanding temples powerful kingdom important trade routes invaded plain allies plain states attacked destroyed kingdom destroying number cities imposing rule portions plain time order consolidate position tried start war kingdom kingdom king alliance discovered able crush contribute greatly military effort angered failure come aid turned southern power gaining control entirety lower plain assisted war south allies north absence soldiers north led unrest continuing expansion turned attention northward unrest soon crushing armies conquered remaining northern states including ally possible conquest surrender actual conflict entered protracted war control kings making alliances minor states order gain upper hand eventually prevailed death new king forced pay tribute rule directly years succeeded uniting rule kingdom survived forced pay tribute reign major city states region west levant maintained independence found far north claims title king vast numbers contract dated reigns successors discovered letters letters glimpse daily trials ruling empire dealing floods changes flawed calendar taking care massive livestock died passed empire son rule empire began quickly code laws code inscribed placed public place thought later plundered removed capital rediscovered iran paris code contained laws written unlike earlier laws written daily language read person city structure code specific offense receiving specified punishment tended harsh modern standards offenses resulting death use eye eye tooth tooth law retaliation philosophy code earliest examples idea innocence suggests accused opportunity provide evidence provision circumstances alter prescribed punishment carving portrays receiving laws god possibly preface states chosen gods people bring laws parallels narrative giving laws god jewish tradition moses similarities legal codes suggest common ancestor semitic background fragments previous law codes found argues code biblical book exodus directly primarily based laws similar codes law created nearby including earlier examples code laws code later code laws example laws code text taken harper translation steal cattle sheep ass pig goat belong god court thief shall pay belonged freed man king shall pay thief pay shall death man breach house shall death breach shall thrust man open canal irrigation neglect water carry away adjacent field shall measure grain basis adjacent fields man cut tree man orchard consent owner orchard shall pay half silver man set face son judges son judges shall son committed crime sufficiently grave cut father cut son committed crime father sufficiently grave cut shall offense commit crime second time father cut son son strike father shall cut fingers man destroy eye man shall destroy eye break man bone shall break bone destroy eye freeman break bone freeman shall pay silver destroy eye man slave break bone man slave shall pay half price man knock tooth man rank shall knock tooth knock tooth freeman shall pay silver physician operate man severe wound bronze cause man death open eye man bronze destroy man eye shall cut fingers physician operate slave freeman severe wound bronze cause death shall restore slave equal value builder build house man construction firm house built collapse cause death owner house builder shall death cause death son owner house shall death son builder cause death slave owner house shall owner house slave equal value destroy property shall restore destroyed house built firm collapsed shall rebuild house collapsed property expense legacy depictions reign position holy city southern predecessor final time previously enjoyed status restored renaissance rule successor short lived began collapse northern driven sin native speaking ruler circa time native speakers threw rule far south creating region ancient successors met defeats loss territory hands kings south east northeast quickly reduced small minor state founding coup grace dynasty occurred sacked conquered powerful ending political presence european speaking remain turning allies people speaking language region dynasty rule years adopting parts culture including code laws reputation depiction found government buildings depicted marble chamber united_states capitol depicting great history including south wall building theory current early past century holds king book genesis
Hammurabi