The Oldest Code of Laws in the World

The Code of Hammurabi, created ca. 1760 BC, is one of the earliest extant sets of laws and one of the best preserved examples of this type of document from ancient Mesopotamia. The Code contains an enumeration of crimes and their various punishments as well as settlements for common disputes and guidelines for citizen's conduct. Hammurabi (1728 BC-1686 BC) believed he was chosen by the gods to deliver the law to his people.