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Hammurabi Code - Printable Math Worksheets 6th Grade - Wayground

Hammurabi Code

RACHEL BORK

Created by RACHEL BORK

10 questions

6th Grade

Math

Updated Oct 2026

Hammurabi Code is a free printable Grade 6 history worksheet that helps students understand why Hammurabi’s Code matters in the study of ancient Mesopotamia. Through 10 multiple-choice questions, students identify Hammurabi as the king of the Babylonian Empire, recognize the Code as a collection of 282 written laws, and explain why the laws were displayed publicly. The worksheet also asks students to interpret the Code’s purpose and legacy. Students examine the idea that punishments should fit crimes, connect the phrase “an eye for an eye” to Hammurabi’s laws, identify justice and order as intended social goals, and determine the meaning of “maintain order.” It is designed for Grade 6 history instruction, review, or assessment and includes a complete answer key for efficient checking.

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Hammurabi Code

Total questions: 10

Name
Class
Date
1.

One reason Hammurabi's code is famous is that

a)

it was the first set of laws recorded in writing

b)

it was written in a sophisticated code that took years for historians to translate

c)

it was beautifully written on a single giant stone of polished basalt

d)

it was the first set of laws to rhyme to help people remember them

2.

How was Hammurabi's code displayed?

a)

Scholars are not sure but many believe that the laws were kept secret

b)

The laws were placed in public so that all people could see them

c)

the laws were carved into hundreds of different stones along the road to the city

d)

nobody knows because the original code was destroyed

3.
Who was Hammurabi?
Who was Hammurabi?
a)
He was a god.
b)
He was a king of the first city of Ur.
c)
He was the king of the Babylonian empire.
d)
He was a Mesopotamian scribe.
4.
How would you describe his laws?
How would you describe his laws?
a)
Fair and balanced.
b)
Very harsh by our modern standards.
c)
 Too lenient (easy on the offender)
d)
complicated
5.
What were the ancient people like in Mesopotamia?
What were the ancient people like in Mesopotamia?
a)
They were a lot like us. Everyone was treated equally.
b)
They believed that the gods gave their kings authority.
c)
They were very unkind and unjust.
d)
They believed in one god.
6.
Which modern idiom refers to Hammurabi's Code?
Which modern idiom refers to Hammurabi's Code?
a)
An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth
b)
It's raining cats and dogs.
c)
Break a leg!
d)
The wisdom of an old man brings wealth.
7.

What is Hammurabi's Code?

a)

a collection of 282 laws believed to be the first written laws

b)

a group of soldiers and noblemen who lived in ancient Mesopotamia

c)

the ancient idea that a punishment should fit the crime

d)

the punishment for stealing sheep from a nobleman in ancient Mesopotamia

8.

What is the main idea of this text?

a)

In the time of Hammurabi's Code, it was illegal for a shepherd to steal a sheep from the flock of a nobleman.

b)

The U.S. Constitution is mostly based on the ideas and laws mentioned in Hammurabi's Code.

c)

Hammurabi’s code and the U.S. Constitution differ in that the laws in Hammurabi’s Code often depended on social standing.

d)

Hammurabi's Code was the first collection of written law and advanced the rule of law in Mesopotamia.

9.

Read these sentences from the text.


In an effort to make the punishment fit the crime, Hammurabi’s Code often required the criminal to receive the same injury that he or she had inflicted on a victim. Such laws may seem harsh today, but they were intended to prevent society from descending into chaos and disorder.


Based on this evidence, what might King Hammurabi have wanted to promote in society?

a)

chaos and confusion

b)

justice and order

c)

anger and violence

d)

wealth and fortune

10.
What does the bolded phrase in the sentence mean :  The purpose of the laws was to unify and maintain order. 
a)
keep the peace
b)
punish people
c)
organize people
WaygroundAnswer Key

Hammurabi Code

Total questions: 10

1.
a)

it was the first set of laws recorded in writing

2.
b)

The laws were placed in public so that all people could see them

3.
c) He was the king of the Babylonian empire.
4.
b) Very harsh by our modern standards.
5.
b) They believed that the gods gave their kings authority.
6.
a) An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth
7.
a)

a collection of 282 laws believed to be the first written laws

8.
d)

Hammurabi's Code was the first collection of written law and advanced the rule of law in Mesopotamia.

9.
b)

justice and order

10.
a) keep the peace

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FAQs

What does this Hammurabi Code worksheet help students learn?

This 10-question multiple-choice worksheet helps Grade 6 students explain Hammurabi’s Code as a collection of 282 written laws from the Babylonian Empire. Students also interpret its emphasis on public laws, punishment fitting the crime, justice and order, and the relationship between social standing and legal treatment.

How can I use this worksheet to teach Hammurabi’s Code?

Introduce Hammurabi as the Babylonian king and review why recording laws publicly could help maintain order. Then have students complete the multiple-choice questions, pausing to discuss the “eye for an eye” principle, why the laws may seem harsh today, and what the worksheet’s evidence suggests about justice in Mesopotamian society.

What mistakes should I watch for when students complete this worksheet?

Students may confuse Hammurabi with a Mesopotamian scribe, a god, or the king of Ur, or confuse the Code itself with the general idea that punishment should fit the crime. Watch also for errors in interpreting the main idea and evidence questions, especially choosing wealth, anger, or punishment instead of justice and order, and misreading “maintain order” as simply organizing people.

How do I assign and grade this Hammurabi Code worksheet?

You can assign this worksheet as a printable PDF or as a digital quiz on Wayground. It includes a complete answer key, and printable submissions can be graded by scanning student work with the Wayground for Teachers app. The printable version can also support schools that are reducing screen time.

How can I differentiate this Hammurabi Code worksheet for my students?

Use the worksheet’s Advanced Settings to adjust font spacing and font size so the 10 multiple-choice questions are easier to read. You can also enable a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language, depending on students’ reading needs.

Where can I find more worksheets like this on Wayground?

Wayground offers a comprehensive collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across all subjects, with downloadable PDFs and answer keys to help students master essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.

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