Cuneiform Impact on Law, Government, and Infrastructure

Hammurabi Establishes a Legal Code

This source depicts that the first code was established in 2100 BCE by Sumerian King Ur-Nammu of Ur. It is believed that The Code of Hammurabi, written in the late 1700s BCE, incorporated several laws and regulations from The Code of Ur-Nammu because they shared similar ideals.

The Sumerians Develop Cuneiform

This resource highlights the impact that cuneiform writing had on a multitude of items. Because cuneiform writing was incredibly complicated to write and read, only wealthy educated people could afford to pay for or become a scribe. This was the catalyst that established social stratification. In addition, it showcases how Sumerians used writing to track trade, develop cities, establish government, and enhance agriculture.

This clay tablet enlists different job titles.

This is a photo taken by Associate Professor, Dr. Amin who has a special interest in Mesopotamian civilization. He took this photo at the Pergamon Museum and noted that this cuneiform tablet captured the different occupations of Mesopotamian society.

Together, these sources showcase how cuneiform writing lead to the development of a complex society built on the establishment of infrastructure. Cuneiform writing enabled Mesopotamian societies to implement and uphold laws and build a government. As a result of Cuneiform writing, a social class system was established and Mesopotamians were able to develop and track trade and therefore pursue specific trade labor. Cuneiform writing allowed a written value to be assigned to items and to labor, and this value was not open to misinterpretation because it was documented. All of this helped to build a flourishing society.