Changes

==Later Laws and Hammurabi==

Already by the early second millennium BC, between 2000-1800 BC, we begin to see law codes in cities such as Isin and Eshnunna in Mesopotamia. Many laws were focused on property issues, regulating trade, prices, equipment, while accidents and fines were also discussed. In many cases of sexual offences, theft, and bodily injury, it seems fines were more commonly used rather than simply harsher punishments.<ref>For more information on Mesopotamia laws, see: Roth, Martha Tobi, Harry A. Hoffner, and Piotr Michalowski. 1997. ''Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor. 2. ed. Writings from the Ancient World, vol. 6''. Atlanta, Ga: Scholars Press.</ref>

However, no judicial case written has been found to indicate Hammurabi’s code was directly invoked. This suggests the law code may have also been an attempt to deter criminal behavior, as Hammurabi suggests lawlessness may have prompted the creation of the law code and the harsh laws were need to diminish criminality. Hammurabi also instructs officials to apply precedent as a foundation for law in his letters, which is again similar to modern concepts of judicial practice.<ref>For more information on Hammurabi’s application of law, see VerSteeg 2000, pg. 16.</ref> Finally, comparisons between the law code and the later Mosaic laws show some similar structures. For instance, the use of divine authority, the concept of an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth, use of witnesses, and major concern with property are common to both laws. <ref>For more information on comparisons between Mosaic and Hammurabi’s law, see: Davies, W. W, and Hammurabi. 2009. ''The Codes of Hammurabi and Moses: With Copious Comments, Index and Bible References''. Cincinnati, Ohio; New York: Jennings and Graham ; Eaton and Mains.</ref> This does not suggest that Hammurabi’s law necessarily influenced the later Biblical law, but it could suggest common shared culture across Mesopotamia and other Near East societies.

==Other Near East States==