Code of Ur-Nammu: The Oldest Law Code in the World

Q: What is the Code of Ur-Nammu?

The Code of Ur-Nammu is the oldest law code (set of laws) in the world, instituted by the Sumerian king Ur-Nammu and dated to circa 2100-2050 BCE.

Q: How many laws are in the Code of Ur-Nammu?

There are 57 laws in the Code of Ur-Nammu; 30 of them have been fully reconstructed.

Q: Why was the Code of Ur-Nammu written?

The Code of Ur-Nammu was written to make clear to the people what the laws were and what their king expected from them in terms of behavior. It standardized the law across the region of Sumer.

Q: When was the Code of Ur-Nammu discovered and translated?

The Code of Ur-Nammu was discovered in Iraq in 1948 and translated by the scholar Samuel Noah Kramer in 1952.

Joshua J. Mark

Code of Ur-Nammu

The Oldest Law Code in the World

Definition

The Code of Ur-Nammu (circa 2100-2050 BCE) is the oldest extant law code in the world. It was written by the Sumerian king Ur-Nammu (reign circa 2112-2094 BCE) or his son Shulgi of Ur (reign 2094 to circa 2046 BCE), centuries before the famous Code of Hammurabi was inscribed by the Babylonian king Hammurabi (reign 1795-1750 BCE).

More about: Code of Ur-Nammu

Timeline

c. 2100 BCE - c. 2050 BCE
The Code of Ur-Nammu (the oldest extant code of laws) is written.

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