Women, Crime and Punishment in Ancient Law and Society: Volume 1: The Ancient Near East / Edition 1

by Elisabeth Meier Tetlow

Overview

This volume, spanning three millennia BCE, concentrates on the major ancient civilizations that left information about women and crime in Mesopotamia and Asia Minor, namely, Sumer (Pt I), Babylonia (Pt II), Assyria (Pt III), and Khatti (Pt IV). Most of the extant writings are incomplete, and some are only brief fragments. No ancient document has been found that contains the entire civil or criminal code of a civilization or all of its laws affecting women. Each document contains a small piece of the puzzle. When put together here with other writings, art, and artifacts, a general picture of the treatment of women, crime and punishment in each of these ancient civilizations begins to emerge. The book includes illustrations, an extensive Chronology and Names, and Indices of Persons, Places, and Subjects.

Crime and punishment, criminal law and its administration, are areas of ancient history that have been explored less than many other aspects of ancient civilizations. Throughout history women have been affected by crime both as victims and as offenders. In the ancient world, customary laws were created by men, formal laws were written by men, and both were interpreted and enforced by men. This two-volume work explores the role of gender in the formation and administration of ancient law and examines the many gender categories and relationships established in ancient law, including legal personhood, access to courts, citizenship, political office, religious office, professions, marriage, inheritance, and property ownership. Thus it focuses on women and crime within the context of women in the society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826416285
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/28/2004
Series:	Women, Crime, and Punishment in Ancient Law and Society , #1
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.81(d)

About the Author

Elisabeth Meier Tetlow has a Doctor of Law degree as well as five Master of Arts degrees in philosophy, theology, biblical studies, and Semitic languages. She has been a visiting scholar in law and religious studies at Loyola University of New Orleans since 1992.

Table of Contents

PREFACEGENERAL INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION TO ANCIENT NEAR EASTERN LAW AND SOCIETYPART ONE: SUMERThe Law Reforms of King Uru'inimgina of LagashThe Laws of King Ur-Nammu of UrThe Laws of King Lipit-Ishtar of IsinSumerian Laws Exercise TableSumerian Documents and InscriptionsCriminal Trials of WomenArt and ArchaeologyConclusion: Women, Crime, and Punishment in Ancient SumerPART II: BABYLONIA Old Babylonia (1894-1595) The Laws of Eshnunna The Laws of King Hammurab The Edict of King Ammisaduqa Old Babylonian Documents and InscriptionsMiddle Babylonia (1595-627)Late Babylonia (626-539) The Late Babylonian Laws Late Babylonian Documents and Inscriptions Conclusion: Women, Crime, and Punishment in Ancient BabyloniaPART III: ASSYRIAOld Assyria I (2000-1814 B.C.E.)Old Assyria II (1814-1762 B.C.E.)Middle Assyria (1363-1057 B.C.E.) The Middle Assyrian Laws The Middle Assyrian Palace DecreesLate Assyria (934-612) Assyrian Documents, Inscriptions, and Art Royal Assyrian Conquest AnnalsConclusion: Women, Crime, and Punishment in Ancient AssyriaPART IV: KHATTThe Hittite LawsHittite Documents and InscriptionsConclusion: Women, Crime, and Punishment in Ancient KhattiCONCLUSION: WOMEN, CRIME, AND PUNISHMENTIN THE ANCIENT NEAR EASTSumerTransitionBabyloniaAssyriaKhattiConclusionILLUSTRATIONSCHRONOLOGY AND NAMESNOTESBIBLIOGRAPHYINDEX