Legal Definitions - Hammurabi, Code of

The Code of Hammurabi is the oldest known written legal code, created in Mesopotamia during the reign of Hammurabi from 1792 to 1750 B.C. It consisted of almost 300 provisions, organized under headings such as family, trade, real property, personal property, and labor.

For example, one provision stated that if a builder constructed a house that collapsed and killed the owner, the builder would be put to death. Another provision stated that if a man accused his wife of adultery but could not prove it, the woman would be thrown into the river to determine her guilt or innocence.

These examples illustrate how the Code of Hammurabi established laws and punishments for various aspects of life, including construction, marriage, and justice. It was an important step in the development of legal systems and influenced later codes of law.