Code of Hammurabi

The Code of Hammurabi is the earliest, best-preserved set of laws found. It shows rules and punishments if those rules are defied. It focuses on theft, farming (or shepherding), property damage, women’s rights, marriage rights, children’s rights, slave rights, and murder, death, and injury. The laws do not accept excuses or explanations for mistakes or fault.

Hammurabi felt he had to write the code to please his gods. But unlike some other kings, he did not consider himself related in any way to any god, although he did call himself "the favorite of the gods".

There were 282 laws on an obsidian stela, and it is about 8 feet tall. It was discovered in 1909. It is now on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.