What is the main purpose of laws? Should they promote good behavior or punish bad behavior?
Do all communities need a system of laws to guide them?
What influence does social class have on the punishments for the crimes in the code?
What areas of life did the code cover? Choose one law and explain its importance and significance to society.
In your opinion, list three of Hammurabi’s laws that are too extreme/harsh for society. Why?
In your opinion, how has the Code of Hammurabi impacted the written law of the United States? Do laws in the U.S. or around the world have similarities to this code?
Discussion questions for Socratic Seminar on 9/11
On the Question of Religion, Death and the Afterlife…
Read the Epic of Gilgamesh and answer questions
1 and 2.
Read Lament for Ur and answer questions 3,4,5
Read Psalm 104 and answer question 2.
What are the similarities and differences between the
Mesopotamians, Egyptians, and Hebrews when it comes to the role of religion in
their lives?
On the Question of rule
Compare the inscriptions of Cyrus and Darius to
the Code of Hammurabi. Are there similarities? Differences? How are the rulers perceived by the gods?
Read the Ten Commandments. Answer questions 1
and 2.How similar are the commandments
to the Code of Hammurabi?
Read Deuteronomy and answer question 2.Compare to the Code of Hammurabi.