One of the most popular items at the Louvre Museum in Paris is the Law Code Stele of Hummurabi. Show this 3-minute video from Khan Academy to introduce students to a famous and significant artifact from ancient Mesopotamia.

After showing the video, ask:

• What was the purpose of this artifact? Why was it made?
• Where did these laws come from? Who made these laws?
• Do you think most people in Mesopotamia could read these laws?
• Were the consequences for breaking Hammurabi’s laws fair and reasonable?

Use a Think-Pair-Share strategy to assess students’ prior knowledge:

• Can civilization exist without laws?
• What might be the first laws ever written?
• What types of laws would be necessary in the ancient world?

• Explain that laws are the foundation of civilization and that the laws of ancient civilizations continue to influence us today.
• Organize students in small groups using the Jigsaw Strategy.
• Assign each expert group one legal milestone to research.
• Provide each student with a copy of the notetaking sheet “Legal Milestones in the Ancient World” and have students record their findings in the relevant section.
• Organize students into jigsaw groups so that each new group has at least one member who researched each legal milestone. Have students share their findings with members of their new group in order to complete the other sections of the notetaking sheet.

Exit Ticket:

• Why are laws necessary for civilization?
• What were some of the first written laws?
• What parts of ancient legal systems can be seen in our world today?

• Students may be interested to discover that Mosaic Law contained many rules about food which have become the basis for the Jewish kosher diet. Students can learn more at  My Jewish Learning.
• Highlight the fact that cultural influences and dietary restrictions influence the food choices that people make. Encourage students to consider how their culture and possible dietary restrictions (food allergies, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan…) influence what they eat each day.

Britannica. 2013. “Code of Hammurabi.” September 11,

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Code-of-Hammurabi

Britannica. 2015. “Manu-smriti: Great Law of Manu.”  February 4,

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Manu-smriti  

Britannica. 2018. “Napoleonic Code.” January 19,

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Napoleonic-Code

Britannica. 2018. “Roman Law.” March 29,

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Roman-law

Britannica. 2019. “International Law. Historical Development.” November 13,

https://www.britannica.com/topic/international-law/Historical-development   

British Library. [n.d.] “Magna Carta.”

https://www.bl.uk/magna-carta

Breay, Claire. [n.d.] “Magna Carta: An Introduction.” British Library.

https://www.bl.uk/magna-carta/articles/magna-carta-an-introduction

Canadian Law. [n.d.] “Justinian Code.”

http://www.canadianlawsite.ca/JustinianCode.htm