Previous Codes of Law
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Though the Code of Hammurabi is one of the oldest set of laws ever established, others do predate it. The Code of Ur-Nammu, created by King Ur-Nammu, was composed three centuries before the Code of Hammurabi and dealt with injuries and sexual offenses.
 Image courtesy of: Wikimedia, Wikipedia.org
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A detail of the Stele of Ur-Nammu showing King Ur-Nammu making an offering to the Moon God, Nannar (1960 B.C.E.). The Code of Ur-Nammu divided society into two classes: free people and slaves.
Image courtesy of: Wikimedia, Wikipedia.org
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These parallel sections from both law codes have different ramifications. Both law codes are written in conditional statements, but the major difference between the Code of Ur-Nammu and the Code of Hammurabi is that the former institutes fines for bodily damage, while the latter implements lex talionis.
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The Code of Lipit-Ishtar, was created a century before the Code of Hammurabi. Its laws were taught in schools centuries after his death. Other earlier codes of law include those written by Shulgi of Ur and Dadusha of Eshnunna.  Image courtesy of: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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