Imagine a world without written laws, where no one knows what they are entitled to or what they are responsible for. More than three thousand years ago, the first attempts began to organize society and define what was just and what was unjust. Historical Correction Regarding the Earliest Laws It is commonly believed that the Code of Hammurabi was the first law in the world. This belief prevailed before the discovery of older laws, such as: The Code of Ur-Nammu (2100–2050 BCE) The Code of Lipit-Ishtar (1930–1920 BCE) The Laws of the Kingdom of Eshnunna (1900–1800 BCE) The Code of Hammurabi (1792–1750 BCE) was not created entirely anew in its own era. Rather, it: Drew upon provisions from earlier laws. Retained some of those provisions. Modified and added others to suit the circumstances of its time. The Code of Ur-Nammu (The Oldest Written Code of Law) It dates back to the 21st century BCE (2100–2050 BCE). It was established by the Sumerian king Ur-Nammu, founder of the Third Dynasty of Ur. It is said to have contained 57 laws, of which 31 provisions have survived. It was written in cuneiform script and in the Sumerian language. In 1952, the first clay tablet containing part of the text was discovered. The Objectives of the Law as Stated in Its Introduction Strengthening justice and freedom. Eliminating corruption. Removing hatred and injustice. Key Principles The code contains many principles that resemble what later came to be known as human rights, including: Prohibiting violations against the human body. Equality among all people. Protecting the rights of the vulnerable. Reforms Addressed by the Code Marriage and divorce. The rights of orphans. Penalties for murder, theft, treason, and rape. Combating fraud and manipulation of weights and measures. Playing a major role in the development and establishment of a successful economic policy in the Sumerian state. Adopting the principle of compensation rather than the principle of retaliation, which was later adopted by Hammurabi. Ur-Nammu was given the title “Organizer of Justice in Sumer and Akkad.” The Code of Lipit-Ishtar It is considered the second-oldest known law code. It was issued by King Lipit-Ishtar, the fifth king of the Dynasty of Isin. It dates to the second millennium BCE (1930–1920 BCE). It predates the Code of Hammurabi by more than a century and a half. It was written in the Sumerian language and was discovered on seven fragments. It consists of an introduction similar to that of the Code of Ur-Nammu, 37 legal provisions, and a conclusion. What It Regulated People's rights and justice for the poor. The protection of slaves and the prevention of their mistreatment. The protection of children's rights. Preventing the arrest of any person unless the crime had been established. In this respect, the law considered the accused innocent until proven guilty. The conclusion of the law states: “Lipit-Ishtar, son of the god Enlil, abolished hatred and violence, promoted justice and truth, and brought prosperity to the Sumerians and Akkadians.” The Laws of the Kingdom of Eshnunna They are considered the third-oldest known laws. They are attributed to the Kingdom of Eshnunna, one of the important city-states at the beginning of the Babylonian period. They were written in cuneiform script and in the Akkadian language. They consist of an introduction and 60 legal provisions. They date to approximately 1900–1800 BCE, predating the Code of Hammurabi by more than a century. The laws were divided into groups, each addressing a particular issue, including: Personal status. The rights of the family, husband, and wife. One of the earliest references to the division of society into social classes. Economic matters, including: Setting prices for essential goods. Regulating buying, selling, and property ownership. Addressing the crime of theft. Establishing the principle of compensation for damages. Serving as a link between Sumerian legislation (Ur-Nammu and Lipit-Ishtar) and Babylonian legislation (Hammurabi). The Code of Hammurabi The Code of Hammurabi drew upon earlier laws and was inspired by some of their provisions. However, it is considered the most comprehensive of the ancient law codes that preceded it. For this reason, it is regarded as a shining page in the history of civilization. From Ur-Nammu to Hammurabi, laws were not merely written texts; they were the first steps toward a world seeking justice. Code Date Language Type of Punishment Key Values Ur-Nammu 2100–2050 BCE Sumerian Compensation Equality, protection, and prevention of injustice Lipit-Ishtar 1930–1920 BCE Sumerian Social reform Prevention of torture and protection of slaves and members of society Eshnunna 1900–1800 BCE Akkadian Based on social class Early development of the concept of social stratification Hammurabi 1792–1750 BCE Akkadian Retaliation Protecting justice and the vulnerable The Oldest Laws in the World Imagine that you are living in a world without written laws… no one knows whether they have a right or whether they are subject to punishment. More than three thousand years ago, the first attempts were made to organize society and establish what was just and what was unjust. Many people believe that the Code of Hammurabi was the first law in the world and that Hammurabi was the first king to establish laws, as scholars once assumed before the discovery of the Codes of Ur-Nammu, Lipit-Ishtar, and Eshnunna, which preceded it. The legislation of Hammurabi, written around 1754 BCE, was not created entirely anew in its own era, nor was it the first of its kind. Rather, it contained many provisions that had already appeared in earlier legal codes. Some were retained unchanged, while others were modified, and new provisions were added to suit the era in which the code was issued. The Code of Ur-Nammu is considered the oldest written legal code in human history. It dates to the 21st century BCE, approximately 2100–2050 BCE. It was established by the Sumerian king Ur-Nammu, founder of the Third Dynasty of Ur. It is said to have contained 57 laws, of which 31 provisions have survived. The code was written in cuneiform script and in the Sumerian language. In 1952, the first clay tablet containing part of a copy of the code was discovered. The introduction of the law states the objectives behind its enactment, including strengthening justice and freedom, eliminating corruption, and removing hatred and injustice. The code contains many principles that resemble what later became known as human rights, including the prohibition of violations against the human body. The provisions of the code emphasized equality among all people and the preservation of the rights of the vulnerable. They also included social reforms addressing a number of social matters, such as marriage, divorce, and the rights of orphans. The code established penalties for several criminal offenses, including murder, theft, treason, and rape. From an economic perspective, it sought to combat fraud and manipulation of weights and measures. It also played a major role in the development and establishment of a successful economic policy in the Sumerian state. The code adopted the principle of compensation as a form of punishment, in contrast to the principle of retaliation adopted by the Code of Hammurabi. For this reason, Ur-Nammu was given the title “Organizer of Justice in Sumer and Akkad.” The second-oldest known law code is the Code of King Lipit-Ishtar, the fifth king of the Dynasty of Isin. King Lipit-Ishtar issued the code in the second millennium BCE, around 1930–1920 BCE, more than a century and a half before the Code of Hammurabi. His code was found written in the Sumerian language on seven fragments. The code consists of an introduction similar to that of the Code of Ur-Nammu, a conclusion, and 37 legal provisions. It regulated people's rights and justice for the poor, while also emphasizing the protection of slaves, preventing their mistreatment, and ensuring their rights. It also addressed the protection of children's rights and prohibited the arrest of any person unless the crime had been established. In this respect, the law considered the accused innocent until proven guilty. The conclusion of the law states: “Lipit-Ishtar, son of the god Enlil, abolished hatred and violence, promoted justice and truth, and brought prosperity to the Sumerians and Akkadians.” The third-oldest law code is attributed to the Kingdom of Eshnunna, one of the important city-states that ruled at the beginning of the Babylonian period. The text of the law was written in cuneiform script and in the Akkadian language. It consists of an introduction and 60 legal provisions. This code predates the Code of Hammurabi by more than a century and dates to approximately 1900–1800 BCE. The law was divided into groups, with each group addressing a particular issue, including personal status and the rights of the family, husband, and wife. It also contains one of the earliest references to the division of society into classes. The code sought to alleviate the economic burdens on citizens by setting prices for essential goods and materials needed by people. It also addressed matters of buying, selling, and property ownership, dealt with the crime of theft, and established the principle of compensation for damages. Some provisions of the Laws of the Kingdom of Eshnunna resemble those found in earlier Sumerian laws, such as the Codes of Ur-Nammu and Lipit-Ishtar. Meanwhile, the Code of Hammurabi, which followed the Eshnunna laws, borrowed some of its provisions. For this reason, some scholars consider the Laws of Eshnunna a link between Sumerian and Babylonian legislation. The Code of Hammurabi, meanwhile, is the most comprehensive of the laws that preceded it. For this reason, it is regarded as a shining page in the pages of history. Code Date Language Type of Punishment Key Values Ur-Nammu 2100–2050 BCE Sumerian Compensation Equality, protection, and prevention of injustice Lipit-Ishtar 1930–1920 BCE Sumerian Social reform Prevention of torture and protection of slaves and members of society Eshnunna 1900–1800 BCE Akkadian Based on social class Early development of the concept of social stratification Hammurabi 1792–1750 BCE Akkadian Retaliation Protecting justice and the vulnerable