1. “If it kills the owner’s son, the builder’s son shall be put to death.”
Babylon, c. 1750 BC
If a poorly constructed house collapsed and killed the owner’s son in ancient Babylon, the builder’s own son was to be executed. The punishment reflected the principle of “an eye for an eye,” under which the consequences were supposed to match the harm caused.
Babylonian law was harsh. For example, a doctor could have his hands cut off if an operation resulted in a patient’s death. A wet nurse who secretly breastfed another person’s child could have her breasts cut off.
2. “Any man who remains unmarried shall walk through the marketplace in winter wearing a scanty garment and sing songs mocking his own disobedience.”
Ancient Greece, c. 500–400 BC
In Sparta, marriage was considered a civic duty, and men who remained unmarried could be subjected to public humiliation. According to historical accounts, during winter they were required to walk around the marketplace wearing very little clothing and sing songs exposing their own shame.
They could also lose the respect that younger Spartans were normally expected to show older men.
3. “No one shall have more than two courses at dinner or supper, and each course shall consist of no more than two kinds of food.”
England, 1336
In 1336, King Edward III of England sought to put an end to the lavish meals that led wealthy nobles to spend enormous sums on food. The main problem was that people with more modest means tried to keep up with the wealthy, spending money they could not afford.
According to the text of the law, this led to poverty and made people less capable of helping the king when the country needed them. However, the law specified no punishment for violations and proved difficult to enforce.
4. “Anyone who refuses to shave his beard and moustache shall pay an annual tax.”
Russia, 1698–1705
Peter the Great wanted to modernize Russia along European lines and regarded beards as a symbol of outdated Russian traditions. He therefore introduced a beard tax that men had to pay if they wanted to keep their facial hair.
Those who paid received a small token as proof that they had settled the tax. Anyone who failed to pay risked having his beard forcibly shaved off.
5. “Any woman wishing to dress as a man must apply to the police prefecture for permission.”
Paris, 1800
In the early 19th century, trousers were commonly regarded as men’s clothing, and the authorities sought to enforce traditional gender boundaries through legislation.
The rule was relaxed in both 1892 and 1909, allowing women to decide for themselves whether to wear trousers when riding horses or cycling. The law was not officially declared obsolete until 2013.
6. “A red flag must be carried in front of self-propelled vehicles.”
Great Britain, 1865
The predecessors of petrol-powered cars were steam-powered vehicles, which began appearing on British roads in the mid-19th century. However, politicians were deeply concerned about these new machines, and the British Parliament introduced strict regulations to protect other road users.
Each vehicle had to have three people assigned to it. One of them was required to walk at least 55 metres ahead of the vehicle, carrying a red flag to warn pedestrians and horse-drawn traffic.
The red-flag requirement was abolished in 1878, but a person was still required to walk ahead of the vehicle.
7. “Anyone without a job or a permanent place of residence shall be punished with imprisonment.”
Brazil, 1890
Following the abolition of slavery, Brazil introduced a law making it a criminal offence to be unemployed and without a permanent home if a person was unable to support themselves.
The punishment was 15 to 30 days in prison. After serving the sentence, the convicted person was required to find employment within 15 days. If they failed, they could be sent to a penal colony for up to three years.
The provision technically remains part of Brazilian law, although it is rarely enforced.
8. “Persons who are disfigured or so deformed that they appear repulsive may not appear in public.”
United States, 1881
In the late 19th century, several American cities introduced so-called “ugly laws,” designed to keep people considered unattractive off the streets and out of public spaces.
In San Francisco, for example, the law applied to “any person who is diseased, maimed, mutilated, or in any way deformed.” It particularly affected poor and homeless people with disabilities who tried to earn money by begging.
Violations were punishable by fines. The law was not repealed until 1974, after decades of criticism that it discriminated against people with disabilities.
9. “From now on, no one shall die on the island.”
Greece, 426 BC
In 426 BC, the Athenians decreed that no one was allowed to die on the Greek island of Delos.
The island had been inhabited since the third millennium BC, but Delos was sacred to the god Apollo, and death was regarded as a form of religious pollution that had no place on holy ground.
The authorities therefore removed the existing graves and ruled that anyone approaching death had to be transported to the neighbouring island of Rheneia.
10. “Reincarnations must be approved by the authorities.”
China, 2007
In Tibetan Buddhism, it is believed that important religious leaders are reborn after death. Monks therefore search for children believed to be the reincarnations of particular religious figures.
In 2007, however, China decreed that reincarnations had to receive state approval. The law gives Chinese authorities influence over who becomes the next generation of religious leaders in Tibet.
The Tibetan government-in-exile and the current Dalai Lama, however, do not accept China’s law.
