The Code of Ur-Nammu

It is the world's oldest legal document, dating back 4,000 years, and bears a strong resemblance to the Code of Hammurabi. Given its age and origin in the Babylonian city of Ur, it is reasonable to view the Code of Hammurabi as an extension of this earlier code.

A striking difference between the two is that this code emphasizes compensation for most offenses, while the Code of Hammurabi frequently prescribes death as punishment for transgressions. Additionally, the latter code introduced regulations on trade, likely reflecting the more complex trade systems that emerged during King Hammurabi's reign.