歷史上最早的(de)(de)(de)成文(wen)法(fa)典(dian)(dian)是古代西(xi)亞(ya)烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)第三王朝創始(shi)者烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)納姆(mu)頒布的(de)(de)(de)。它(ta)適應奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)制(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)發(fa)展，主要用(yong)來保護奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)占有和私有制(zhi)經濟，鎮(zhen)壓(ya)奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)和貧民的(de)(de)(de)反抗(kang)。這部(bu)法(fa)典(dian)(dian)大(da)部(bu)損壞，只剩殘(can)片(pian)。烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)第三王朝（約公(gong)元前(qian)2113~前(qian)2006年）創始(shi)人烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)納姆(mu)（約公(gong)元前(qian)2113~前(qian)2096年在位）建立了強大(da)的(de)(de)(de)中央(yang)集(ji)權(quan)制(zhi)度，總攬全國大(da)權(quan)，統一兩河(he)流域的(de)(de)(de)法(fa)律，適應奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)制(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)發(fa)展和奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)主鎮(zhen)壓(ya)奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)反抗(kang)的(de)(de)(de)需要，緩(huan)和自由(you)民內部(bu)的(de)(de)(de)矛盾，他下令(ling)用(yong)蘇美爾(er)文(wen)（楔(xie)形(xing)文(wen)字）寫成了一部(bu)適用(yong)于烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)全境的(de)(de)(de)法(fa)典(dian)(dian)，這便(bian)是《烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)納姆(mu)法(fa)典(dian)(dian)》。
法典(dian)包括序言(yan)和(he)正文29條（傳下(xia)來的(de)只有(you)23條）兩大(da)部分(fen)，沒有(you)結語，主要涉及政治、宗教和(he)法律(lv)等方面(mian)。序言(yan)宣稱，是(shi)神授予烏爾(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)統治權力，烏爾(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)在人世間(jian)的(de)行為是(shi)按照神意(yi)，確(que)立「正義」和(he)「社會秩序」，并(bing)列(lie)舉了他在保(bao)護貧弱、抑制豪強等方面(mian)所采取的(de)措施。
現(xian)已發(fa)現(xian)的(de)最早抄本大(da)約是巴比倫時代的(de)，但大(da)部分已毀(hui)損，僅(jin)存幾條(tiao)(tiao)殘(can)片(pian)(pian)。從破(po)損較嚴重的(de)法典殘(can)片(pian)(pian)看，法典的(de)主(zhu)(zhu)要內容(rong)是對(dui)奴(nu)隸制度、婚姻、家(jia)庭、繼承、刑罰等(deng)方面(mian)的(de)規定。如(ru)(ru)：第(di)一次(ci)離(li)婚支(zhi)付(fu)(fu)1米(mi)納白銀(yin)(yin)，而第(di)二次(ci)離(li)婚應當支(zhi)付(fu)(fu)1/2米(mi)納白銀(yin)(yin)，通奸(jian)者(zhe)(zhe)將(jiang)被(bei)(bei)(bei)處(chu)死；強暴自己的(de)女奴(nu)者(zhe)(zhe)將(jiang)被(bei)(bei)(bei)課(ke)以5西克爾罰金；作偽證將(jiang)被(bei)(bei)(bei)處(chu)以罰款(kuan)；斗(dou)毆中(zhong)打折骨頭需(xu)支(zhi)付(fu)(fu)1米(mi)納白銀(yin)(yin)，損傷(shang)腳需(xu)支(zhi)付(fu)(fu)10西克爾；外國(guo)人(ren)(ren)的(de)土地被(bei)(bei)(bei)淹(yan)沒(mei)，每0.3公頃土地將(jiang)給予3古爾（約900公升大(da)麥）補償(chang)；將(jiang)逃亡奴(nu)隸捉回的(de)奴(nu)隸主(zhu)(zhu)要給捕(bu)捉者(zhe)(zhe)適當的(de)報酬；傷(shang)害他人(ren)(ren)的(de)身世要處(chu)以酷刑并罰款(kuan)；禁止(zhi)行巫(wu)術(shu)；破(po)壞他人(ren)(ren)耕地者(zhe)(zhe)要支(zhi)付(fu)(fu)食(shi)物賠(pei)(pei)償(chang)；女奴(nu)對(dui)女主(zhu)(zhu)人(ren)(ren)不(bu)敬則予體(ti)罰。婦女在家(jia)庭中(zhong)地位(wei)低下，如(ru)(ru)犯通奸(jian)罪則處(chu)死等(deng)等(deng)。這些條(tiao)(tiao)文充分表明(ming)了(le)當時立法已采(cai)用罰金賠(pei)(pei)款(kuan)等(deng)方式逐步(bu)取代同態復仇。
從現在僅存的(de)(de)(de)二十(shi)多條殘篇(pian)來看，涉及(ji)(ji)女(nv)奴(nu)的(de)(de)(de)有(you)五(wu)條，她們時常遭受強(qiang)暴、買(mai)賣和(he)毆(ou)打；有(you)兩條涉及(ji)(ji)寡(gua)婦(fu)，她們的(de)(de)(de)社會(hui)地位較之女(nv)奴(nu)較好——法典序言提(ti)(ti)到(dao)(dao)不(bu)允(yun)許有(you)勢力的(de)(de)(de)人支配寡(gua)婦(fu)，正文又提(ti)(ti)到(dao)(dao)遺(yi)棄(qi)寡(gua)婦(fu)的(de)(de)(de)男人應(ying)賠償一定數額的(de)(de)(de)白銀；法典也涉及(ji)(ji)普(pu)通婦(fu)女(nv)，她們的(de)(de)(de)社會(hui)地位比女(nv)奴(nu)和(he)婦(fu)女(nv)高，但(dan)較普(pu)通男子(zi)卑下(xia)。盡管法典中仍(reng)殘存著(zhu)讓河神澄清(qing)妖術罪(zui)和(he)妻(qi)子(zi)被(bei)控(kong)通奸罪(zui)的(de)(de)(de)規(gui)定，但(dan)有(you)關身體(ti)傷害的(de)(de)(de)處(chu)罰(fa)規(gui)定比原始的(de)(de)(de)處(chu)罰(fa)有(you)了很大的(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)(er)納(na)姆(mu)（Ur-Nammu）約公(gong)元前2113年(nian)－公(gong)元前2096年(nian)在位阿(a)卡德王國(guo)滅亡后(hou)(hou)，蠻族庫(ku)提(ti)人統(tong)治(zhi)蘇美(mei)(mei)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)地(di)區，雖然其(qi)間(jian)有些蘇美(mei)(mei)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)城邦保持著(zhu)相對的(de)(de)(de)獨立和(he)繁(fan)榮。公(gong)元前2120年(nian)，漁夫出身的(de)(de)(de)烏(wu)(wu)魯(lu)克人烏(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)起(qi)兵自(zi)立為(wei)烏(wu)(wu)魯(lu)克王，并且(qie)打敗(bai)了庫(ku)提(ti)人，俘獲(huo)了庫(ku)提(ti)人的(de)(de)(de)末代國(guo)王梯里根（Tiriga），烏(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)占領烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)后(hou)(hou)任命(ming)烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)治(zhi)理(li)烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)。烏(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)與烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)的(de)(de)(de)關系現在仍(reng)是史學(xue)界研究的(de)(de)(de)課(ke)題，一(yi)說(shuo)烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)是烏(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)的(de)(de)(de)弟(di)弟(di)，另(ling)一(yi)說(shuo)烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)則是烏(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)的(de)(de)(de)女婿。但可能(neng)在烏(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)尚在世時，烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)就已(yi)經與他反目為(wei)仇(chou)，不臣服于(yu)他了。約公(gong)元前2112年(nian)，烏(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)死(si)于(yu)一(yi)場意外（或者可能(neng)是陰謀）。此后(hou)(hou)烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)南征北戰，繼阿(a)卡德王國(guo)以(yi)后(hou)(hou)，統(tong)一(yi)整個美(mei)(mei)索不達(da)米亞(ya)，建立起(qi)了強(qiang)大的(de)(de)(de)中央集(ji)權制(zhi)王朝(chao)。（另(ling)一(yi)強(qiang)大的(de)(de)(de)蘇美(mei)(mei)城邦拉(la)格什于(yu)約公(gong)元前2110年(nian)被征服）烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)留(liu)給(gei)后(hou)(hou)人一(yi)部(bu)《烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)法(fa)典》，今天(tian)考(kao)古所得的(de)(de)(de)只(zhi)是這部(bu)法(fa)典的(de)(de)(de)一(yi)小部(bu)分。
《烏爾納姆法(fa)典》是部成熟的法(fa)律，蘇美(mei)爾文明的法(fa)制體系(xi)已(yi)經經歷了很長(chang)時間的發展。雖然如此(ci)，《烏爾納姆法(fa)典》但(dan)仍然可視(shi)為人類文明史上現存的最早(zao)的成文法(fa)。
歲月靜好 
