Although the common answer to this is the Code of Hammurabi, this is not quite true. Around the same time, in several different places, written ethical codes appeared. 1)Code of Hammurabi Hammurabi is known for the set of laws called Hammurabi's Code, one of the first written codes of law in recorded history. Hammurabi, who lived ca. 1810 BCE – 1750 BCE, was the sixth king of Babylon. He became the first king of the Babylonian Empire, extending Babylon's control over Mesopotamia by winning a series of wars against neighboring kingdoms. Wikipedia writes: Hammurabi is perhaps best known for the promulgation of a new code of Babylonian law – the Code of Hammurabi. This was written on a stele, a large stone monument, and placed in a public place so that all could see it, although it is thought that few were literate. The stele was later plundered by the Elamites and removed to their capital, Susa; it was rediscovered there in 1901 and is now in the Louvre Museum in Paris. The code of Hammurabi contained 282 laws, written by scribes on 12 tablets. Unlike earlier laws, it was written in Akkadian, the daily language of Babylon, and could therefore be read by any literate person in the city.[17] The structure of the code is very specific, with each offense receiving a specified punishment. The punishments tended to be harsh by modern standards, with many offenses resulting in death, disfigurement, or the use of the "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth philosophy". While the penalties of his laws may seem cruel to modern readers, the fact that he not only put into writing the laws of his kingdom, but attempted to make them a systematic whole, is considered an important step forward in the evolution of civilization. Putting the laws into writing was important in itself because it suggested that the laws were immutable and above the power of any earthly king to change. The code is also one of the earliest examples of the idea of presumption of innocence, and it also suggests that the accused and accuser have the opportunity to provide evidence. However, there is no provision for extenuating circumstances to alter the prescribed punishment. =============== The Mosaic Code The Mosaic Code, or the Laws of Moses, are written in the Book of Exodus, Leviticus and Deuteronomy in the Old Testament. Based on internal textual evidence, the books could only have been written down between the middle of the 17th century BC and as late as the 13th Century BC. Evidence leans towards the former dates. There are some superficial similarities with the Babylonian code, but the world views upon which the two are constructed are completely different. Any similarities would be because both the Babylonians and the Hebrews were both Semitic peoples. Besides, the Hebrews had just spent 400 years within Egypt; Babylon was not an influence upon them. ========= Egypt: Dating from between 2000 BC and 1800 BC are the Egyptian texts known as the Coffin Texts. They are among Egypt's first codes of ethics. Even earlier were the Pyramid Texts, written as advice to a dead king. Both of these codes provide information on life, though not for the common person. They are beautifully written, but are unlikely, according to translator and expert The Rev. Tjalling Bruinsma, to have provided any influence upon the Mosaic code. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,895919,00.html Hope this helps. (Oh, BTW have provided pics of the Hammurabi stele, which contains his code)