歷(li)史上最早的(de)(de)成(cheng)文法(fa)典(dian)是古代西(xi)亞烏(wu)爾(er)第(di)三(san)王(wang)(wang)朝(chao)(chao)創(chuang)始者烏(wu)爾(er)納姆頒布(bu)的(de)(de)。它適(shi)應奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)制的(de)(de)發展(zhan)，主要(yao)用(yong)來(lai)保護奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)占有和(he)私有制經(jing)濟(ji)，鎮(zhen)壓奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)和(he)貧民的(de)(de)反抗。這部(bu)法(fa)典(dian)大部(bu)損壞，只剩殘片。烏(wu)爾(er)第(di)三(san)王(wang)(wang)朝(chao)(chao)（約公元前(qian)2113~前(qian)2006年(nian)）創(chuang)始人(ren)烏(wu)爾(er)納姆（約公元前(qian)2113~前(qian)2096年(nian)在位）建(jian)立了強大的(de)(de)中央(yang)集權制度，總攬(lan)全國大權，統一兩河流域的(de)(de)法(fa)律，適(shi)應奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)制的(de)(de)發展(zhan)和(he)奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)主鎮(zhen)壓奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)反抗的(de)(de)需(xu)要(yao)，緩和(he)自由民內部(bu)的(de)(de)矛盾，他下令用(yong)蘇美爾(er)文（楔(xie)形文字）寫(xie)成(cheng)了一部(bu)適(shi)用(yong)于烏(wu)爾(er)全境的(de)(de)法(fa)典(dian)，這便是《烏(wu)爾(er)納姆法(fa)典(dian)》。
法典包括序言和(he)(he)正文29條（傳下來(lai)的(de)只有23條）兩大部分，沒有結語，主要涉及政治(zhi)、宗教(jiao)和(he)(he)法律等(deng)方(fang)面(mian)。序言宣稱(cheng)，是(shi)神授予烏(wu)爾(er)納(na)姆(mu)統治(zhi)權力，烏(wu)爾(er)納(na)姆(mu)在人(ren)世(shi)間的(de)行為是(shi)按(an)照神意，確立(li)「正義」和(he)(he)「社會秩序」，并列舉(ju)了他(ta)在保護貧(pin)弱、抑制(zhi)豪強(qiang)等(deng)方(fang)面(mian)所(suo)采取的(de)措施。
現(xian)已發(fa)現(xian)的(de)最早抄本大約是(shi)巴比(bi)倫時(shi)代的(de)，但大部(bu)分已毀(hui)損，僅存幾條殘(can)片(pian)。從破(po)損較嚴(yan)重(zhong)的(de)法(fa)(fa)典殘(can)片(pian)看(kan)，法(fa)(fa)典的(de)主(zhu)要內容(rong)是(shi)對奴隸制(zhi)度、婚(hun)姻(yin)、家(jia)(jia)庭(ting)、繼承、刑(xing)罰(fa)等方面(mian)的(de)規定。如(ru)：第(di)一次離(li)(li)婚(hun)支(zhi)付(fu)(fu)1米(mi)納白銀，而(er)第(di)二次離(li)(li)婚(hun)應(ying)當支(zhi)付(fu)(fu)1/2米(mi)納白銀，通奸者將(jiang)被(bei)處(chu)(chu)死(si)；強暴自己的(de)女奴者將(jiang)被(bei)課以5西(xi)克爾罰(fa)金(jin)；作偽證(zheng)將(jiang)被(bei)處(chu)(chu)以罰(fa)款；斗毆中打(da)折骨頭(tou)需支(zhi)付(fu)(fu)1米(mi)納白銀，損傷(shang)腳需支(zhi)付(fu)(fu)10西(xi)克爾；外國人(ren)(ren)的(de)土(tu)(tu)地被(bei)淹沒(mei)，每(mei)0.3公(gong)頃(qing)土(tu)(tu)地將(jiang)給(gei)(gei)予(yu)3古爾（約900公(gong)升大麥(mai)）補償；將(jiang)逃亡奴隸捉回的(de)奴隸主(zhu)要給(gei)(gei)捕捉者適(shi)當的(de)報酬；傷(shang)害他(ta)人(ren)(ren)的(de)身世要處(chu)(chu)以酷刑(xing)并罰(fa)款；禁止行巫術(shu)；破(po)壞他(ta)人(ren)(ren)耕地者要支(zhi)付(fu)(fu)食(shi)物賠償；女奴對女主(zhu)人(ren)(ren)不敬則予(yu)體(ti)罰(fa)。婦女在家(jia)(jia)庭(ting)中地位低(di)下(xia)，如(ru)犯通奸罪則處(chu)(chu)死(si)等等。這些條文充分表明了當時(shi)立法(fa)(fa)已采用罰(fa)金(jin)賠款等方式逐步取代同(tong)態(tai)復仇(chou)。
從現在僅(jin)存的(de)二十(shi)多(duo)條殘(can)篇來看(kan)，涉及女(nv)奴(nu)的(de)有(you)(you)五條，她(ta)們時常遭受強(qiang)暴、買賣和(he)(he)毆打；有(you)(you)兩條涉及寡(gua)婦(fu)，她(ta)們的(de)社會地位較(jiao)之女(nv)奴(nu)較(jiao)好——法典序言提到不允許(xu)有(you)(you)勢力的(de)人支配寡(gua)婦(fu)，正文又提到遺棄寡(gua)婦(fu)的(de)男(nan)人應賠償(chang)一(yi)定(ding)數額的(de)白銀；法典也涉及普通(tong)婦(fu)女(nv)，她(ta)們的(de)社會地位比女(nv)奴(nu)和(he)(he)婦(fu)女(nv)高，但較(jiao)普通(tong)男(nan)子卑(bei)下。盡管(guan)法典中(zhong)仍殘(can)存著(zhu)讓河(he)神(shen)澄清妖術罪和(he)(he)妻(qi)子被(bei)控通(tong)奸罪的(de)規(gui)定(ding)，但有(you)(you)關身體傷害的(de)處(chu)罰(fa)規(gui)定(ding)比原始的(de)處(chu)罰(fa)有(you)(you)了(le)很(hen)大(da)的(de)進步(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)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)（Ur-Nammu）約(yue)公元(yuan)前(qian)2113年(nian)－公元(yuan)前(qian)2096年(nian)在(zai)位(wei)阿卡(ka)德王(wang)國滅亡后，蠻族庫提(ti)人(ren)(ren)統(tong)治蘇美(mei)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)地區，雖然其間有些蘇美(mei)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)城邦保持著(zhu)相對的(de)(de)獨立(li)和繁(fan)榮。公元(yuan)前(qian)2120年(nian)，漁(yu)夫出身的(de)(de)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)魯克人(ren)(ren)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)起(qi)兵自立(li)為烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)魯克王(wang)，并且(qie)打敗了(le)(le)庫提(ti)人(ren)(ren)，俘(fu)獲了(le)(le)庫提(ti)人(ren)(ren)的(de)(de)末(mo)代(dai)國王(wang)梯里根（Tiriga），烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)占領烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)后任命烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)治理烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)。烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)與烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)的(de)(de)關(guan)系(xi)現在(zai)仍(reng)是史學界研(yan)究的(de)(de)課(ke)題，一說(shuo)(shuo)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)是烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)的(de)(de)弟(di)(di)弟(di)(di)，另(ling)一說(shuo)(shuo)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)則是烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)的(de)(de)女婿。但可能在(zai)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)尚在(zai)世時(shi)，烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)就已經與他反(fan)目為仇，不臣服(fu)于(yu)他了(le)(le)。約(yue)公元(yuan)前(qian)2112年(nian)，烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)死于(yu)一場意外（或者可能是陰(yin)謀(mou)）。此后烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)南征北戰，繼(ji)阿卡(ka)德王(wang)國以后，統(tong)一整個美(mei)索不達(da)米亞，建立(li)起(qi)了(le)(le)強大的(de)(de)中央集權制(zhi)王(wang)朝。（另(ling)一強大的(de)(de)蘇美(mei)城邦拉格什于(yu)約(yue)公元(yuan)前(qian)2110年(nian)被(bei)征服(fu)）烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)留(liu)給后人(ren)(ren)一部(bu)《烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)法典(dian)》，今天考古所(suo)得(de)的(de)(de)只(zhi)是這部(bu)法典(dian)的(de)(de)一小(xiao)部(bu)分。
《烏爾納姆法典》是部成熟的(de)法律，蘇美爾文(wen)明的(de)法制(zhi)體(ti)系已經經歷了(le)很(hen)長(chang)時間的(de)發(fa)展。雖然如此，《烏爾納姆法典》但仍然可視為人類文(wen)明史上現存的(de)最早的(de)成文(wen)法。
歲月靜好 
