歷(li)史上最早的(de)(de)成文法(fa)典是古代西亞(ya)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾第(di)三王朝創(chuang)始者烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾納(na)姆頒布的(de)(de)。它適(shi)應奴(nu)隸制(zhi)的(de)(de)發展(zhan)，主(zhu)要用(yong)來保護奴(nu)隸占有和(he)(he)(he)私有制(zhi)經濟，鎮壓(ya)奴(nu)隸和(he)(he)(he)貧民的(de)(de)反(fan)抗(kang)。這部(bu)法(fa)典大(da)部(bu)損壞，只剩殘片(pian)。烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾第(di)三王朝（約(yue)公元(yuan)前2113~前2006年(nian)(nian)）創(chuang)始人烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾納(na)姆（約(yue)公元(yuan)前2113~前2096年(nian)(nian)在位）建立(li)了強大(da)的(de)(de)中央集(ji)權制(zhi)度(du)，總攬(lan)全國大(da)權，統一(yi)兩河流域的(de)(de)法(fa)律，適(shi)應奴(nu)隸制(zhi)的(de)(de)發展(zhan)和(he)(he)(he)奴(nu)隸主(zhu)鎮壓(ya)奴(nu)隸反(fan)抗(kang)的(de)(de)需要，緩和(he)(he)(he)自(zi)由民內部(bu)的(de)(de)矛盾(dun)，他下令(ling)用(yong)蘇美爾文（楔(xie)形文字）寫成了一(yi)部(bu)適(shi)用(yong)于(yu)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾全境的(de)(de)法(fa)典，這便(bian)是《烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾納(na)姆法(fa)典》。
法典包(bao)括(kuo)序言和(he)正文29條（傳下來的只有(you)23條）兩大部分(fen)，沒有(you)結語，主要涉及政治、宗教和(he)法律等方面(mian)。序言宣稱(cheng)，是神授予(yu)烏(wu)爾納(na)姆統治權力，烏(wu)爾納(na)姆在人世間的行為(wei)是按照神意，確立「正義」和(he)「社會秩(zhi)序」，并列舉了他在保護(hu)貧弱、抑制豪強等方面(mian)所(suo)采取的措施。
現已發現的最(zui)早抄本大約是巴比倫時(shi)代的，但大部分(fen)已毀損，僅(jin)存幾(ji)條(tiao)殘片。從破(po)(po)損較嚴重(zhong)的法(fa)(fa)典(dian)殘片看，法(fa)(fa)典(dian)的主要(yao)內容是對奴隸(li)制度、婚(hun)(hun)姻、家(jia)庭(ting)(ting)、繼承、刑罰(fa)等(deng)方(fang)面的規定(ding)。如：第一次(ci)離婚(hun)(hun)支(zhi)付(fu)1米納(na)(na)白(bai)銀(yin)，而第二次(ci)離婚(hun)(hun)應當支(zhi)付(fu)1/2米納(na)(na)白(bai)銀(yin)，通(tong)奸(jian)者(zhe)將(jiang)被(bei)處(chu)死(si)；強暴(bao)自己(ji)的女(nv)奴者(zhe)將(jiang)被(bei)課(ke)以5西克爾(er)罰(fa)金；作偽證將(jiang)被(bei)處(chu)以罰(fa)款；斗(dou)毆(ou)中打折骨頭需支(zhi)付(fu)1米納(na)(na)白(bai)銀(yin)，損傷腳需支(zhi)付(fu)10西克爾(er)；外(wai)國人的土地被(bei)淹(yan)沒，每0.3公頃(qing)土地將(jiang)給(gei)予(yu)3古爾(er)（約900公升大麥）補償(chang)；將(jiang)逃亡(wang)奴隸(li)捉(zhuo)(zhuo)回的奴隸(li)主要(yao)給(gei)捕捉(zhuo)(zhuo)者(zhe)適當的報酬；傷害他人的身世要(yao)處(chu)以酷刑并罰(fa)款；禁(jin)止行巫術；破(po)(po)壞他人耕地者(zhe)要(yao)支(zhi)付(fu)食(shi)物(wu)賠償(chang)；女(nv)奴對女(nv)主人不敬則予(yu)體罰(fa)。婦女(nv)在家(jia)庭(ting)(ting)中地位低下，如犯(fan)通(tong)奸(jian)罪則處(chu)死(si)等(deng)等(deng)。這(zhe)些條(tiao)文(wen)充分(fen)表明了(le)當時(shi)立法(fa)(fa)已采(cai)用罰(fa)金賠款等(deng)方(fang)式逐(zhu)步取代同(tong)態復仇。
從現在僅存(cun)的(de)(de)(de)二十多條殘(can)(can)篇來(lai)看，涉(she)及女(nv)奴的(de)(de)(de)有(you)(you)五(wu)條，她們(men)(men)時(shi)常(chang)遭(zao)受強暴、買(mai)賣和毆(ou)打；有(you)(you)兩條涉(she)及寡(gua)婦，她們(men)(men)的(de)(de)(de)社會地位較(jiao)之女(nv)奴較(jiao)好——法(fa)典(dian)序(xu)言提(ti)到不允(yun)許有(you)(you)勢力的(de)(de)(de)人(ren)支配(pei)寡(gua)婦，正(zheng)文又提(ti)到遺棄寡(gua)婦的(de)(de)(de)男(nan)人(ren)應賠(pei)償一定數額的(de)(de)(de)白銀；法(fa)典(dian)也(ye)涉(she)及普(pu)通(tong)婦女(nv)，她們(men)(men)的(de)(de)(de)社會地位比女(nv)奴和婦女(nv)高，但較(jiao)普(pu)通(tong)男(nan)子卑下(xia)。盡管法(fa)典(dian)中(zhong)仍殘(can)(can)存(cun)著讓(rang)河神澄清妖術罪和妻(qi)子被控通(tong)奸罪的(de)(de)(de)規定，但有(you)(you)關(guan)身體(ti)傷(shang)害的(de)(de)(de)處罰(fa)規定比原始的(de)(de)(de)處罰(fa)有(you)(you)了(le)很大的(de)(de)(de)進步。
《烏爾納姆法典》無論在內容上或形式上，都有創新之處，在西亞地區占有重要的地位，對后來兩河流域各國制定的法典影響頗大。
序言
The prologue, typical of Mesopotamian law codes, invokes the deities for Ur-Nammu's kingship and decrees "equity in the land".
"…After Anand Enlilhad turned over the Kingship of Ur to Nanna, at that time did Ur-Nammu, son born of Ninsun, for his beloved mother who bore him, in accordance with his principles of equity and truth... Then did Ur-Nammu the mighty warrior, king of Ur, king of Sumer and Akkad, by the might of Nanna, lord of the city, and in accordance with the true word of Utu, establish equity in the land; he banished malediction, violence and strife, and set the monthly Temple expenses at 90 gur of barley, 30 sheep, and 30 sila of butter. He fashioned the bronze sila-measure, standardized the one-minaweight, and standardized the stone weight of a shekelof silver in relation to one mina... The orphan was not delivered up to the rich man; the widow was not delivered up to the mighty man; the man of one shekel was not delivered up to the man of one mina."
正文
1. If a man commits a murder, that man must be killed.
2. If a man commits a robbery, he will be killed.
3. If a man commits a kidnapping, he is to be imprisoned and pay 15 shekels of silver.
4. If a slave marries a slave, and that slave is set free, he does not leave the household.
5. If a slave marries a native (i.e. free) person, he/she is to hand the firstborn son over to his owner.
6. If a man violates the right of another and deflowers the virgin wife of a young man, they shall kill that male.
7. If the wife of a man followed after another man and he slept with her, they shall slay that woman, but that male shall be set free. (§4 in some translations)
8. If a man proceeded by force, and deflowered the virgin slavewoman of another man, that man must pay five shekels of silver. (5)
9. If a man divorces his first-time wife, he shall pay her one mina of silver. (6)
10. If it is a (former) widow whom he divorces, he shall pay her half a mina of silver. (7)
11. If the man had slept with the widow without there having been any marriage contract, he need not pay any silver. (8)
13. If a man is accused of sorcery he must undergo ordeal by water; if he is proven innocent, his accuser must pay 3 shekels. (10)
14. If a man accused the wife of a man of adultery, and the river ordeal proved her innocent, then the man who had accused her must pay one-third of a mina of silver. (11)
15. If a prospective son-in-law enters the house of his prospective father-in-law, but his father-in-law later gives his daughter to another man, the father-in-law shall return to the rejected son-in-law twofold the amount of bridal presents he had brought. (12)
17. If a slave escapes from the city limits, and someone returns him, the owner shall pay two shekels to the one who returned him. (14)
18. If a man knocks out the eye of another man, he shall weigh out ½ a mina of silver. (15)
19. If a man has cut off another man’s foot, he is to pay ten shekels. (16)
20. If a man, in the course of a scuffle, smashed the limb of another man with a club, he shall pay one mina of silver. (17)
21. If someone severed the nose of another man with a copper knife, he must pay two-thirds of a mina of silver. (18)
22. If a man knocks out a tooth of another man, he shall pay two shekels of silver. (19)
24. [...] If he does not have a slave, he is to pay 10 shekels of silver. If he does not have silver, he is to give another thing that belongs to him. (21)
25. If a man’s slave-woman, comparing herself to her mistress, speaks insolently to her, her mouth shall be scoured with 1 quart of salt. (22)
28. If a man appeared as a witness, and was shown to be a perjurer, he must pay fifteen shekels of silver. (25)
29. If a man appears as a witness, but withdraws his oath, he must make payment, to the extent of the value in litigation of the case. (26)
30. If a man stealthily cultivates the field of another man and he raises a complaint, this is however to be rejected, and this man will lose his expenses. (27)
31. If a man flooded the field of a man with water, he shall measure out three kur of barley per iku of field. (28)
32. If a man had let an arable field to a(nother) man for cultivation, but he did not cultivate it, turning it into wasteland, he shall measure out three kur of barley per iku of field. (29)
烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)（Ur-Nammu）約公(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)(qian)2113年－公(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)(qian)2096年在(zai)位阿卡德王國(guo)滅(mie)亡后，蠻族庫(ku)提(ti)(ti)人統治(zhi)蘇美爾(er)(er)(er)(er)地區(qu)，雖然其(qi)間有些(xie)蘇美爾(er)(er)(er)(er)城(cheng)邦保持著相對(dui)的(de)(de)(de)獨(du)立(li)(li)和繁榮。公(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)(qian)2120年，漁夫出(chu)身的(de)(de)(de)烏(wu)(wu)魯克人烏(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)起(qi)兵自立(li)(li)為(wei)烏(wu)(wu)魯克王，并且打(da)敗了(le)庫(ku)提(ti)(ti)人，俘獲了(le)庫(ku)提(ti)(ti)人的(de)(de)(de)末代國(guo)王梯(ti)里根（Tiriga），烏(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)占領(ling)烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)后任命烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)治(zhi)理烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)。烏(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)與烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)的(de)(de)(de)關系(xi)現在(zai)仍是(shi)史學界研究的(de)(de)(de)課題，一(yi)說烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)是(shi)烏(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)的(de)(de)(de)弟(di)弟(di)，另(ling)一(yi)說烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)則是(shi)烏(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)的(de)(de)(de)女婿(xu)。但可能在(zai)烏(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)尚在(zai)世時，烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)就已經與他反(fan)目為(wei)仇(chou)，不臣服于他了(le)。約公(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)(qian)2112年，烏(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)死(si)于一(yi)場(chang)意外(wai)（或者可能是(shi)陰(yin)謀）。此后烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)南征北(bei)戰，繼阿卡德王國(guo)以后，統一(yi)整個美索不達米亞，建(jian)立(li)(li)起(qi)了(le)強大的(de)(de)(de)中央集權(quan)制(zhi)王朝。（另(ling)一(yi)強大的(de)(de)(de)蘇美城(cheng)邦拉格(ge)什于約公(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)(qian)2110年被征服）烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)留給后人一(yi)部(bu)《烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)法(fa)(fa)典》，今天考(kao)古所得的(de)(de)(de)只是(shi)這部(bu)法(fa)(fa)典的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)小部(bu)分。
《烏(wu)爾納姆(mu)法(fa)典》是部成熟(shu)的法(fa)律，蘇(su)美爾文(wen)明的法(fa)制體系已經經歷了很長時間的發展。雖然如此，《烏(wu)爾納姆(mu)法(fa)典》但仍然可視為人類文(wen)明史上現存的最早的成文(wen)法(fa)。
歲月靜好 
