So, you've completed the readings, you figure you know what's what and your itching to put pen to paper or blistered fingers to keyboard. Well, then you've come to the right place! First, let's begin with the basic standards I expect. First, you must type your paper using standard margins (1 inch left, 1 inch right), Courier or Times New Roman font and a 12-point type size. Next, you must properly document your use of other people's work in this essay. In plan terms, whenever you comment on or quote from the web-sources linked below or from The Earth and Its Peoples, I expect a proper footnote indicating what material in that book you are referencing. Incidentally, you may not use any other texts for the paper unless specified in the topic you choose. Finally, your essay must be three full pages in length, double-spaced.

Ok, the serious and tedious stuff has been taken care of. Now on to the real fun....choosing a topic. Below you will find four topics from which to choose, each of which asks you to deal with one of the two sets of web-sources connected to this assignment sheet by the hyperlinks below. If none of the topics I have come up with suits, then please see me and we'll work out another topic.

Law in Babylonia 1
Law in Babylonia 2

Topic 1: Many of the laws discuss the idea of responsibility or liability for actions taken. Analyze how Babylonians thought about responsibility/libability in the document using the techniques you have learned and write a paper in which you discuss responsibility/liability in Babylonian culture. Hint: you might focus on the occasions described in the laws.

Topic 2: Analyze the laws in this code focused on gender and the family. In your paper discuss in detail the purpose of these laws and what they tell you about Babylonian society.

Society and Economy in Babylonia

Topic 3: Focusing on sections I though V in the document selection connected to the hypertext, analyze how the economy of Babylonian society worked. Discuss the role of the money versus other ways of carrying out transactions in Babylonian society.

Topic 4: With an emphasis on sections VII to XI in the document selection connected the hypertext above, analyze family relationships and relationships around the family. What was the role of the family in Babylonian society?