Question

Analyze the following law from the Code of Hammurabi, the legal code used in ancient Babylon.
63. If he transform waste land into arable fields and return it to its owner, the latter shall pay him for one year ten gur for ten gan.
- Code of Hammurabi
What does this text indicate about Babylonian society?
A. Fertile land was very important.
B. Landowners were often paid little.
C. Wasteland was highly valued.
D. Farmers received low wages.

Answer 1

A

This is very logical considering that in those days having lands that could produce food was of major importance as people could struggle otherwise to receive enough food. While today we are greeted with an overabundance of every possible food item, in days of Hammurabi, having fertile lands was very vital for the survival of a village, city, or whole civilization.