The Code of Hammurabi "was issued and imposed" (Polushin 15) by "an able and ambitious king"(Polushin 15), Hammurabi, who ruled the city-states of Mesopotamia. The code of Hammurabi was originally made of 282 rules/articles however several are known to have been erased by later rulers and conquerors. The knowledge of King Hammurabi's code has survived because of its discovery in 1901 by a French archeologist. The nature of codes go back to the dawn of history and involve such subject matter as property, social status, punishments, and domestic issues. It reveals a glimpse into how these ancient people governed themselves and how their society was socially stratified. After reading the text of the Code of Hammurabi supplied by Polushin I am led to seek my own analysis to the society's attitude towards slaves in situations of intent and neglect. In certain cases the slave is seen as a very important element to the society and then in contrast later observed as expendable.
             In the Code of Hammurabi articles fifteen through twenty refer specifically to runaway slaves and consequential treatment of surrounding them in several cases. These articles supply rulings for cases that led to the conclusion that slaves were considered valuable property and if this property is taken away from the owner by any means would result in death. For example article fifteen states that "If a man has induced either a male or female slave from a house of a patrician, or plebian, to leave the city, he shall be put to death." It is apparent that even during the times of Hammurabi brave "Harriet Tubmans" were not welcomed. What is even more radical is one could face the death sentence if it becomes known that there is a runaway slave hiding in your house. This can be noted in article sixteen: "If a man has induced either a male or female slave form the house of a patrician's, or plebeian's house, and ...