Hammurabi's Code: an eye for an eye
King Hammurabi's ancient code, from 1750 BCE, pioneered written law with its 'eye for an eye' justice, shaping Babylonian society and influencing future legal systems.
Around 1750 BCE, Babylonian King Hammurabi established one of history's first written legal codes, famously introducing the 'eye for an eye' principle. This ancient artifact, etched on a seven-foot stone stele, contained 282 laws governing everything from property to crime. For example, if a man blinded another, his own eye would be blinded, ensuring punishments matched offenses.
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