Because there was not an afterlife in the religion of the early Mesopotamian society people had no incentive to be good since there was no reward for doing so. thus to keep the peace the punishments for the breaking of any laws was generally death, for example this is rule number 109 in Hammurabi’s code in addition rule number 137, 138 shows that women were treated relatively well in the sense that they were allowed to own property and have personal wealth rather than the husband owning everything.
109. If rebels meet in the house of a wine seller and she does not seize them and take them to the palace that wine seller shall been slain.
137. If a man had decided to divorce … a wife who has presented him with children, then he shall give back to that woman her dowry, and he shall give her the use of field, garden, and property, and she shall bring up her children. After she has brought up her children, she shall take a son’s portion of all that is given to her children, and she marry the husband of her heart.
138. If a man divorces his spouse who has not borne him children, he shall give to her all the silver of the bride-price, and restore to her the dowry, which she brought from the house of her father, and so he shall divorce her.
109. If rebels meet in the house of a wine seller and she does not seize them and take them to the palace that wine seller shall been slain.
137. If a man had decided to divorce … a wife who has presented him with children, then he shall give back to that woman her dowry, and he shall give her the use of field, garden, and property, and she shall bring up her children. After she has brought up her children, she shall take a son’s portion of all that is given to her children, and she marry the husband of her heart.
138. If a man divorces his spouse who has not borne him children, he shall give to her all the silver of the bride-price, and restore to her the dowry, which she brought from the house of her father, and so he shall divorce her.
