Conclusion

After reading King Hammurabi of Babylon, one can conclude that the biases in the king’s favor are found throughout Mieroop’s discussion. Mieroop presents a positive image of the Hammurabi King without taking into account the negative side of him.

One of Hammurabi’s legacies is the Code of Hammurabi. It is clearly the best written evidence that help in the study of the ancient Near East. The code also points to the judicial system that was used in the past. However, this does not mean that the king was just and that this system protected all the people of Babylon. The laws of Hammurabi applied differently upon different classes and it seems that those who belonged to the upper class enjoyed more protection. In addition, there was a gender inequality regarding the family conflicts such as divorce.

Throughout the entire book, Mieroop gives a positive image of the king Hammurabi even though he extended his kingdom by using violence and military force. In chapter ten he mentions that the evidence that exists “portrays thus an age-old belligerent ideology that military action is a justified means to bring peace” (122). Further on, Mieroop praises Hammurabi by declaring that Hammurabi “brought peace and he brought justice” (127). The biases that Mieroop mentions when describing “someone’s accomplishment” ( 136) take place in his book.

Both The Code of Hammurabi and Mieroop's discussion bring an insight into the Babylonian society.