Final answer:
Hammurabi’s Code distinguished between three social classes: the nobility, the commoners, and the enslaved. Each class faced different laws and punishments, and there was also marked gender inequality within these classes, with men enjoying more rights than women. The construction of these classes profoundly affected the daily lives, possibilities, and legal outcomes for individuals in the Old Babylonian period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The social classes described in Hammurabi’s Code were the nobility (awelum), commoners (mushkenum), and the enslaved (wardum). The nobility included high-ranking individuals like priests, official scribes, and military leaders, while the commoners comprised free peasant farmers, artisans, and merchants. Social distinctions were crucial in Hammurabi's Code as the laws and punishments were meted out differently depending on one's social class; for instance, if a commoner harmed a noble, the punishment would be severe, whereas a noble would only have to pay a fine for harming a commoner.
Hammurabi’s Code also reflects gender inequality, as men had more rights and freedom compared to women. Men could have multiple wives and divorce easily, while women could only divorce under certain conditions. However, women from wealthy families could have some protection through dowries.