Code of Hammurabi
One of the earliest known written legal codes — 282 laws governing Babylonian society, from wages to murder.
Hammurabi, king of Babylon, inscribed his legal code on a stele for public display. While not the first laws ever written, this collection is the most complete surviving code from the ancient world.
Perspective
The laws themselves are revealing — different punishments for harming people of different social classes. The idea that "justice" has always been unequal isn't modern cynicism; it's literally written in the oldest laws we have.
Open in interactive timeline →Frequently Asked Questions
What was Code of Hammurabi?
Hammurabi, king of Babylon, inscribed his legal code on a stele for public display. While not the first laws ever written, this collection is the most complete surviving code from the ancient world.
When did Code of Hammurabi happen?
Code of Hammurabi: ~1,754 BCE.
Why does Code of Hammurabi matter?
The laws themselves are revealing — different punishments for harming people of different social classes. The idea that "justice" has always been unequal isn't modern cynicism; it's literally written in the oldest laws we have.
Sources & Further Reading
Cite This Page
AskHistoryAI. “Code of Hammurabi.” AskHistoryAI — Interactive Timeline of Everything. Updated 2026-09-11. https://askhistoryai.com/event/anc-002/
Every fact on this page is checked against the published fact ledger and methodology; sources are listed above.