The Development of Human Rights: From Hammurabi to the Universal Declaration
by Ahmed Souaiaia While the earliest appearance of the phrase “human rights” in written records can be traced back to the first half of the 19th century, the concept of “rights” as ethical and legal claims extends far beyond the modern era. Throughout history, organized societies with hierarchical governments have established norms and rules to protect life, safeguard property, and foster respect for the dignity of others. As early as 1760 BCE, the Babylonian king Hammurabi promoted the “wellbeing of the people” and enshrined this principle in a legal code known as the Code of Hammurabi. Around 539 BCE, when Babylon was conquered by the Persian king Cyrus, he issued a series of decrees granting people under his rule the right to choose their own religion, limiting enslavement, and establishing racial equality. More than 500 years later, the Roman Empire (27 BCE – 476 CE) developed concepts of natural law and the rights of citizens. Religious leaders also played a significant role in advocating for ethical norms and legal rules that promoted equality regardless of sex, ethnicity, or economic status. For example, during his ministry in Palestine (26–33 CE), Jesus Christ preached equality before God, declaring, “In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female.” Similarly, around 500 years later, Prophet Mohammed (613–632 CE) in the Arabian Peninsula challenged the rulers of Mecca, the Quraysh, in the name of principles such as equality, justice, and compassion, which he believed were revealed to him by God in Read more