歷史上最早的成文法(fa)(fa)典(dian)是古代西亞烏(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)第三王朝創始者烏(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納姆頒布(bu)的。它(ta)適應(ying)奴隸制的發(fa)展，主要用來(lai)保(bao)護奴隸占(zhan)有(you)和(he)私有(you)制經濟，鎮壓(ya)(ya)奴隸和(he)貧民的反抗。這(zhe)部(bu)(bu)法(fa)(fa)典(dian)大(da)部(bu)(bu)損壞(huai)，只剩殘(can)片。烏(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)第三王朝（約公元前(qian)2113~前(qian)2006年(nian)(nian)）創始人烏(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納姆（約公元前(qian)2113~前(qian)2096年(nian)(nian)在(zai)位）建立(li)了(le)強大(da)的中央集權制度，總攬全國大(da)權，統一(yi)(yi)兩河流域(yu)的法(fa)(fa)律，適應(ying)奴隸制的發(fa)展和(he)奴隸主鎮壓(ya)(ya)奴隸反抗的需要，緩和(he)自由民內(nei)部(bu)(bu)的矛盾，他下令(ling)用蘇美爾(er)(er)(er)(er)文（楔形文字）寫成了(le)一(yi)(yi)部(bu)(bu)適用于烏(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)全境的法(fa)(fa)典(dian)，這(zhe)便是《烏(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納姆法(fa)(fa)典(dian)》。
法典包括序言(yan)和(he)正(zheng)文29條（傳下來的(de)只(zhi)有(you)23條）兩大部分，沒(mei)有(you)結語，主(zhu)要涉(she)及政治、宗(zong)教和(he)法律等方面。序言(yan)宣稱(cheng)，是神(shen)授(shou)予烏(wu)爾納(na)姆(mu)統治權力(li)，烏(wu)爾納(na)姆(mu)在人世間的(de)行為是按(an)照神(shen)意，確立「正(zheng)義」和(he)「社會秩序」，并列舉了他在保護貧弱、抑(yi)制豪(hao)強等方面所采(cai)取的(de)措(cuo)施(shi)。
現已(yi)發現的(de)(de)(de)最早(zao)抄(chao)本大約(yue)是巴(ba)比(bi)倫(lun)時代的(de)(de)(de)，但大部(bu)分(fen)已(yi)毀損(sun)(sun)，僅(jin)存幾條殘片。從破損(sun)(sun)較嚴重(zhong)的(de)(de)(de)法典殘片看，法典的(de)(de)(de)主(zhu)要內(nei)容是對奴隸制(zhi)度、婚姻、家(jia)庭、繼承、刑(xing)罰等(deng)方面的(de)(de)(de)規定。如：第一次離(li)婚支付(fu)1米納(na)(na)白(bai)銀(yin)，而第二(er)次離(li)婚應當支付(fu)1/2米納(na)(na)白(bai)銀(yin)，通奸者(zhe)將被處(chu)(chu)死；強暴自(zi)己的(de)(de)(de)女(nv)(nv)奴者(zhe)將被課(ke)以(yi)(yi)5西克(ke)爾(er)(er)罰金；作偽證(zheng)將被處(chu)(chu)以(yi)(yi)罰款；斗(dou)毆(ou)中打折(zhe)骨頭需支付(fu)1米納(na)(na)白(bai)銀(yin)，損(sun)(sun)傷(shang)腳需支付(fu)10西克(ke)爾(er)(er)；外國人(ren)的(de)(de)(de)土地(di)被淹沒，每0.3公(gong)頃土地(di)將給(gei)予(yu)3古爾(er)(er)（約(yue)900公(gong)升大麥）補(bu)償；將逃亡(wang)奴隸捉回(hui)的(de)(de)(de)奴隸主(zhu)要給(gei)捕捉者(zhe)適當的(de)(de)(de)報(bao)酬；傷(shang)害他(ta)人(ren)的(de)(de)(de)身世要處(chu)(chu)以(yi)(yi)酷刑(xing)并罰款；禁止(zhi)行(xing)巫術(shu)；破壞他(ta)人(ren)耕(geng)地(di)者(zhe)要支付(fu)食(shi)物賠(pei)償；女(nv)(nv)奴對女(nv)(nv)主(zhu)人(ren)不(bu)敬則予(yu)體(ti)罰。婦女(nv)(nv)在家(jia)庭中地(di)位低下，如犯通奸罪則處(chu)(chu)死等(deng)等(deng)。這(zhe)些條文充(chong)分(fen)表明(ming)了當時立法已(yi)采用(yong)罰金賠(pei)款等(deng)方式逐步取(qu)代同態(tai)復仇(chou)。
從(cong)現在(zai)僅存(cun)(cun)的(de)二十多條(tiao)殘篇來看，涉及(ji)女(nv)奴(nu)的(de)有(you)五條(tiao)，她(ta)們時常遭(zao)受(shou)強暴、買賣和毆打；有(you)兩條(tiao)涉及(ji)寡婦(fu)，她(ta)們的(de)社會(hui)地(di)位較之女(nv)奴(nu)較好——法典(dian)序言提到不允(yun)許(xu)有(you)勢力的(de)人支配寡婦(fu)，正(zheng)文(wen)又(you)提到遺棄寡婦(fu)的(de)男(nan)人應賠償(chang)一(yi)定(ding)(ding)數額的(de)白(bai)銀；法典(dian)也涉及(ji)普(pu)通婦(fu)女(nv)，她(ta)們的(de)社會(hui)地(di)位比女(nv)奴(nu)和婦(fu)女(nv)高，但(dan)(dan)較普(pu)通男(nan)子卑下。盡管法典(dian)中仍殘存(cun)(cun)著讓河神(shen)澄清妖術罪和妻子被控(kong)通奸(jian)罪的(de)規定(ding)(ding)，但(dan)(dan)有(you)關身體傷(shang)害的(de)處(chu)罰規定(ding)(ding)比原(yuan)始的(de)處(chu)罰有(you)了很(hen)大的(de)進(jin)步(bu)。
《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)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)（Ur-Nammu）約公元前(qian)(qian)2113年(nian)－公元前(qian)(qian)2096年(nian)在位阿卡(ka)德王(wang)(wang)國滅亡后(hou)，蠻族庫提人統(tong)(tong)治蘇(su)美(mei)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)地區，雖然(ran)其(qi)間有些蘇(su)美(mei)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)城邦保持著相對的(de)(de)(de)獨立(li)和繁榮。公元前(qian)(qian)2120年(nian)，漁(yu)夫出身的(de)(de)(de)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)魯克人烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)赫(he)加(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)起兵自立(li)為烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)魯克王(wang)(wang)，并且打(da)敗了(le)(le)庫提人，俘獲了(le)(le)庫提人的(de)(de)(de)末代國王(wang)(wang)梯里(li)根(gen)（Tiriga），烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)赫(he)加(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)占領烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)后(hou)任命(ming)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)治理烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)。烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)赫(he)加(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)與(yu)(yu)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)的(de)(de)(de)關系現(xian)在仍是(shi)史學界研究的(de)(de)(de)課題，一(yi)說烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)是(shi)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)赫(he)加(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)的(de)(de)(de)弟弟，另(ling)一(yi)說烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)則是(shi)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)赫(he)加(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)的(de)(de)(de)女婿。但可(ke)(ke)能在烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)赫(he)加(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)尚在世時，烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)就已經與(yu)(yu)他反目為仇(chou)，不臣服于他了(le)(le)。約公元前(qian)(qian)2112年(nian)，烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)赫(he)加(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)死于一(yi)場意外（或者可(ke)(ke)能是(shi)陰(yin)謀）。此后(hou)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)南征北戰，繼阿卡(ka)德王(wang)(wang)國以后(hou)，統(tong)(tong)一(yi)整個美(mei)索不達米亞，建立(li)起了(le)(le)強大的(de)(de)(de)中央集權制王(wang)(wang)朝。（另(ling)一(yi)強大的(de)(de)(de)蘇(su)美(mei)城邦拉格(ge)什于約公元前(qian)(qian)2110年(nian)被征服）烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)留給后(hou)人一(yi)部《烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)法典》，今天考古所得的(de)(de)(de)只(zhi)是(shi)這部法典的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)小(xiao)部分。
《烏(wu)爾(er)納姆法典(dian)》是部成熟的(de)法律，蘇美(mei)爾(er)文明的(de)法制體系已(yi)經(jing)經(jing)歷了(le)很(hen)長時(shi)間(jian)的(de)發展(zhan)。雖然如(ru)此，《烏(wu)爾(er)納姆法典(dian)》但仍然可視為人類文明史上現(xian)存的(de)最早的(de)成文法。
歲月靜好 
