Around 1750 BCE, in the ancient kingdom of Babylon in Mesopotamia, King Hammurabi created one of the world's first written law codes. This collection of 282 laws became known as the Code of Hammurabi. The laws were carved into a large black stone pillar called a stele, which stood over seven feet tall.

Hammurabi wanted everyone in his kingdom to know the laws, so he placed copies of the code in temples and public places throughout Babylon. The laws covered many aspects of daily life, including trade, family relationships, property rights, and punishments for crimes. The code was based on the principle of "lex talionis," which means "the law of retaliation" - essentially "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."

However, not everyone was treated equally under Hammurabi's laws. Society was divided into three classes: nobles, commoners, and slaves. The punishments for the same crime varied depending on which social class the person belonged to. For example, if a noble injured a commoner, the punishment was less severe than if a commoner injured a noble.

Despite its inequalities, the Code of Hammurabi was revolutionary because it established the idea that laws should be written down and made public. This helped reduce corruption and ensured that everyone knew what was expected of them. The code influenced legal systems for thousands of years and is still studied today as one of humanity's earliest attempts to create an organized system of justice.