First Written Law
Kathryn Hopper
Background
There is much debate about the first written laws. It is difficult to determine which code is the first. Depending on the source, there are about twelve different codes which could possibly be the first written laws. The debate is based on that there are references to codes that there are no surviving artifacts of. Perhaps proof of these codes will be found one day. Currently the first example of a legal code in recorded history is that of Urukagina. Urukagina was the ruler of Lagash in Mesopotamia from approximately 2380 to 2360 B.C. The code of Urukagina was used to reform society and combat corruption.[1]
Turning Point
Ur-Nammu, the founder of the third dynast of Ur, and his son Shulgi,[2] are credited with the writing of the Code of Ur-Nammu.[3] The Code of Ur-Nammu is reported to be the oldest surviving tablet containing a law code which was written circa 2100 B.C. This code is the first known to have instituted monetary compensation for bodily harm which was highly advanced for its time. Monetary compensation was accepted for bodily harm with the exceptions of capital crime which murder, robbery, adultery, and rape, all of which were punishable by death.[4]The 25 laws that have been found on three tablets have proven that the “code is the result of a long history of legal decisions which in time became laws.”[5]
Effect
The Code of Ur-Nammu, which was written by Ur-Nammu or Shulgi,[6]was that which “Hammurabi’s great code was modeled upon.”[7] The Code of Hammurabi is a well-known code that is the first full set of written codes found. Hammurabi, a ruler of Babylon in Mesopotamia, had the most extensive set of laws up to date which covered family, criminal punishment, civil law, business, prices, trade, and other aspects of ancient Mesopotamian life. The Code of Hammurabi was carved upon a black stone monument and arranged in orderly group which is “the earliest-known example of a ruler proclaiming publicly to his people an entire body of laws.”[8]
[1] Burgess, Ann Wolbert. “Urukagina”.Victimology: Theories and Applications. 2013.
[2]“Ur-Nammu”.Ancient Encyclopedia History. 2009.
[3]Postgate, J.N.Early Mesopotamia: Society and economy at the dawn of history.42.
[4] Burgess, Ann Wolbert. “Code of Ur-Nammu”.Victimology: Theories and Applications. 2013.[5]Bury, J.B., editor. The Cambridge Ancient History, Egypt and Babylonia to 1580 B.C. 1928: 461.
[6]Bury, J.B. The Cambridge Ancient History.435.
[7]Bury, J.B. The Cambridge Ancient History. 461.
[8]Burgess, Ann Wolbert. “The Code of Hammurabi”.Victimology: Theories and Applications. 2013.
Bibliography
Burgess, Ann Wolbert, Regehr,Cheryl, and Roberts, Albert R. “Code of Hammurabi”.
Victimology:Theories and Applications. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
2013.
Burgess, Ann Wolbert, Regehr,Cheryl, and Roberts, Albert R. “Code of Ur-Nammu”.
Victimology: Theories and Applications. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
2013.
Burgess, Ann Wolbert, Regehr,Cheryl, and Roberts, Albert R. “Urukagina”.Victimology:
Theories and Applications. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. 2013.
Bury, J.B., Cook, S.A. and Sdcock. F.E., editors.The Cambridge Ancient History, Egypt and
Babylonia to 1580 B.C.Vol 1. New York: The MacMillian Company. 1928: 435-461.
Postgate, J.N.Early Mesopotamia: Society and economy at the dawn of history. New York:
Routledge.1994: 42.
“Ur-Nammu”.Ancient Encyclopedia History. 2009. www.ancient.eu.com/
Kathryn Hopper
Background
There is much debate about the first written laws. It is difficult to determine which code is the first. Depending on the source, there are about twelve different codes which could possibly be the first written laws. The debate is based on that there are references to codes that there are no surviving artifacts of. Perhaps proof of these codes will be found one day. Currently the first example of a legal code in recorded history is that of Urukagina. Urukagina was the ruler of Lagash in Mesopotamia from approximately 2380 to 2360 B.C. The code of Urukagina was used to reform society and combat corruption.[1]
Turning Point
Ur-Nammu, the founder of the third dynast of Ur, and his son Shulgi,[2] are credited with the writing of the Code of Ur-Nammu.[3] The Code of Ur-Nammu is reported to be the oldest surviving tablet containing a law code which was written circa 2100 B.C. This code is the first known to have instituted monetary compensation for bodily harm which was highly advanced for its time. Monetary compensation was accepted for bodily harm with the exceptions of capital crime which murder, robbery, adultery, and rape, all of which were punishable by death.[4]The 25 laws that have been found on three tablets have proven that the “code is the result of a long history of legal decisions which in time became laws.”[5]
Effect
The Code of Ur-Nammu, which was written by Ur-Nammu or Shulgi,[6]was that which “Hammurabi’s great code was modeled upon.”[7] The Code of Hammurabi is a well-known code that is the first full set of written codes found. Hammurabi, a ruler of Babylon in Mesopotamia, had the most extensive set of laws up to date which covered family, criminal punishment, civil law, business, prices, trade, and other aspects of ancient Mesopotamian life. The Code of Hammurabi was carved upon a black stone monument and arranged in orderly group which is “the earliest-known example of a ruler proclaiming publicly to his people an entire body of laws.”[8]
[1] Burgess, Ann Wolbert. “Urukagina”.Victimology: Theories and Applications. 2013.
[2]“Ur-Nammu”.Ancient Encyclopedia History. 2009.
[3]Postgate, J.N.Early Mesopotamia: Society and economy at the dawn of history.42.
[4] Burgess, Ann Wolbert. “Code of Ur-Nammu”.Victimology: Theories and Applications. 2013.[5]Bury, J.B., editor. The Cambridge Ancient History, Egypt and Babylonia to 1580 B.C. 1928: 461.
[6]Bury, J.B. The Cambridge Ancient History.435.
[7]Bury, J.B. The Cambridge Ancient History. 461.
[8]Burgess, Ann Wolbert. “The Code of Hammurabi”.Victimology: Theories and Applications. 2013.
Bibliography
Burgess, Ann Wolbert, Regehr,Cheryl, and Roberts, Albert R. “Code of Hammurabi”.
Victimology:Theories and Applications. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
2013.
Burgess, Ann Wolbert, Regehr,Cheryl, and Roberts, Albert R. “Code of Ur-Nammu”.
Victimology: Theories and Applications. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
2013.
Burgess, Ann Wolbert, Regehr,Cheryl, and Roberts, Albert R. “Urukagina”.Victimology:
Theories and Applications. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. 2013.
Bury, J.B., Cook, S.A. and Sdcock. F.E., editors.The Cambridge Ancient History, Egypt and
Babylonia to 1580 B.C.Vol 1. New York: The MacMillian Company. 1928: 435-461.
Postgate, J.N.Early Mesopotamia: Society and economy at the dawn of history. New York:
Routledge.1994: 42.
“Ur-Nammu”.Ancient Encyclopedia History. 2009. www.ancient.eu.com/