A Comparison of Ancient Near Eastern Law Collections Prior to the First Millennium BC

This book highlights and explains consistent differences in both the framing and content of the various pre-first millennium BC law collections of Mesopotamia, Egypt and Hatti. The differences between collections are placed in the broader background of the worldview and political make-up of the societies and individuals that created them, and their historical context.

Contenu

Contents (page 7) Preface (page 9) Acknowledgements (page 11) 1 Introduction (page 13)

• 1.1 Introduction (page 13)
• 1.2 The Historiography of Ancient Near Eastern Law (page 21)

• 1.3 The Comparative Method (page 31) 2 Comparisons (page 49) 2.1 Sources (page 49)

• 2.1.1 Overview (page 49)
• 2.1.2 Form (page 56)
• 2.1.3 Framing (page 66)

• 2.1.4 Nature, Function and Purpose (page 81) 2.2 Role of Judge and King (page 125) 2.3 Marriage and Divorce (page 127) 2.4 Property and Inheritance (page 130)

• 2.4.1 Real Estate (page 130)
• 2.4.2 Inheritance (page 131)

• 2.4.3 Adoption (page 134) 2.5 Contract (page 136)

• 2.5.1 Loans (page 136)
• 2.5.2 Distraint (page 137)
• 2.5.3 Deposit and Safekeeping (page 137)

• 2.5.4 Breach of Contract (page 139) 2.6 Crime and Delict (page 139) 2.6.1 Theft (page 139)

• 2.6.2 Kidnap (page 165)
• 2.6.3 Sex Laws (page 166)
• 2.6.4 False Accusation (page 186)
• 2.6.5 Sorcery (page 191)
• 2.6.6 Murder (page 192)
• 2.6.7 Personal Injury (page 200)
• 2.6.8 Negligence Causing Loss of or Damage to Property (page 225)

• 2.6.9 Non-Negligent Damage to Property (page 231) 2.7 Penalties (page 232)

• 2.7.1 Corporal (page 232)
• 2.7.2 Capital (page 236)
• 2.7.3 Talionic, Vicarious, and Equivalent (page 239)

• 2.7.4 Diachronic Analysis of HL (page 244) 3 Conclusion (page 255)

• 3.1 Was there a Common Legal Culture and/or Widespread Borrowing? (page 255)
• 3.2 Systematic Differences and their Explanation (page 259)
• 3.3 Reflections on the Nature, Function and Purpose of the Collections (page 264)
• 3.4 Implications for Further Research (page 265) Bibliography (page 269) Index of References (page 289)