Final answer:
Ashoka's Rock and Pillar Edicts and The Code of Hammurabi both served to communicate and enforce the ruler's laws across their respective empires. Though Ashoka's edicts were moralistic and Hammurabi's were legalistic, both used inscriptions on stone to ensure the display of royal authority and command over societal norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Ashoka's Rock and Pillar Edicts and The Code of Hammurabi are similar in that both sets of inscriptions were aimed at codifying and imparting a ruler's laws, principles, and philosophies to their subjects. Ashoka's edicts, influenced by his conversion to Buddhism, reflect his commitment to non-violence, moral governance, and the welfare of his people. These edicts were scripted in local languages and were placed strategically across the Mauryan Empire, demonstrating the Indian Empire's spiritual and political character. In contrast, The Code of Hammurabi contained legal codes that are often known for their 'an eye for an eye' approach to justice and were written in the Akkadian language.
Both Ashoka and Hammurabi understood the importance of communication with their subjects and the display of their authority throughout their empires. While Ashoka's approach was more moralistic and rehabilitative, Hammurabi's code was more about retributive justice. However, the fundamental similarity lies in the use of durable materials such as stone to record these laws and edicts, the purpose of spreading the sovereign's presence, and the intent to regulate and guide societal behavior.