Hammurabi's Code: Justice Etched in Stone (But Way Before 1780!) Hold your chariot horses! There's a slight detour on our journey back in time. The Code of Hammurabi, often hailed as one of the first great legal codes, wasn't actually created in 1780 CE. That date would land us smack dab in the middle of the American Revolution, far from the ancient Babylonian Empire where this fascinating code originated. Instead, dust off your time machine and set the dial for 1792-1750 BCE. That's when King Hammurabi, ruler of Babylon, etched his vision of justice into a towering, seven-foot tall black stone stele. Talk about setting your laws in stone! More Than Just a Rulebook This wasn't just a list of "don'ts" for Babylonians. The code covered a vast spectrum of societal concerns, from regulating trade and agriculture to dictating family dynamics and punishments for crimes. The most well-known aspect is the "lex talionis," the famous "eye for an e...