歷史(shi)上最早(zao)的(de)成文(wen)法(fa)(fa)(fa)典是(shi)古代西亞烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)第三(san)王朝創始者烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)納姆頒布的(de)。它適應奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)制(zhi)的(de)發展，主(zhu)要(yao)用(yong)來保護(hu)奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)占有和(he)(he)私有制(zhi)經濟，鎮壓奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)和(he)(he)貧民的(de)反抗(kang)(kang)。這部法(fa)(fa)(fa)典大(da)(da)部損(sun)壞(huai)，只剩殘片。烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)第三(san)王朝（約公元(yuan)前(qian)2113~前(qian)2006年）創始人(ren)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)納姆（約公元(yuan)前(qian)2113~前(qian)2096年在位）建立了(le)(le)強大(da)(da)的(de)中央集權(quan)制(zhi)度(du)，總攬全(quan)國(guo)大(da)(da)權(quan)，統一兩河流域的(de)法(fa)(fa)(fa)律，適應奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)制(zhi)的(de)發展和(he)(he)奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)主(zhu)鎮壓奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)反抗(kang)(kang)的(de)需要(yao)，緩和(he)(he)自由(you)民內部的(de)矛盾，他下令用(yong)蘇美爾(er)(er)文(wen)（楔(xie)形文(wen)字）寫成了(le)(le)一部適用(yong)于烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)全(quan)境的(de)法(fa)(fa)(fa)典，這便是(shi)《烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)納姆法(fa)(fa)(fa)典》。
法(fa)(fa)典包括序言(yan)和正(zheng)文29條(tiao)（傳下(xia)來(lai)的只有(you)23條(tiao)）兩大部分，沒有(you)結語(yu)，主(zhu)要涉及政治(zhi)、宗教(jiao)和法(fa)(fa)律等方(fang)面。序言(yan)宣(xuan)稱(cheng)，是(shi)神授予烏(wu)爾納姆(mu)(mu)統治(zhi)權(quan)力，烏(wu)爾納姆(mu)(mu)在人世間的行(xing)為(wei)是(shi)按照神意(yi)，確立「正(zheng)義(yi)」和「社會秩(zhi)序」，并列(lie)舉(ju)了他(ta)在保護(hu)貧(pin)弱、抑(yi)制豪強等方(fang)面所采(cai)取的措施。
現(xian)已(yi)發現(xian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)最(zui)早(zao)抄本大約是巴比倫時(shi)代的(de)(de)(de)(de)，但大部分已(yi)毀損(sun)，僅(jin)存幾條殘片。從破損(sun)較嚴重的(de)(de)(de)(de)法(fa)典(dian)殘片看，法(fa)典(dian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)主要內容是對奴(nu)隸(li)(li)制度、婚姻、家庭、繼承、刑罰(fa)等方面的(de)(de)(de)(de)規定。如：第一次離婚支付(fu)1米納(na)白銀，而(er)第二次離婚應當(dang)(dang)支付(fu)1/2米納(na)白銀，通奸(jian)者(zhe)將(jiang)(jiang)被處(chu)死(si)；強暴自己的(de)(de)(de)(de)女奴(nu)者(zhe)將(jiang)(jiang)被課以(yi)(yi)5西克(ke)爾罰(fa)金；作偽證將(jiang)(jiang)被處(chu)以(yi)(yi)罰(fa)款；斗毆中打(da)折骨頭需(xu)支付(fu)1米納(na)白銀，損(sun)傷(shang)腳需(xu)支付(fu)10西克(ke)爾；外(wai)國人(ren)的(de)(de)(de)(de)土地(di)被淹沒，每0.3公頃土地(di)將(jiang)(jiang)給(gei)予(yu)3古爾（約900公升大麥）補償；將(jiang)(jiang)逃(tao)亡奴(nu)隸(li)(li)捉回(hui)的(de)(de)(de)(de)奴(nu)隸(li)(li)主要給(gei)捕捉者(zhe)適當(dang)(dang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)報酬；傷(shang)害他人(ren)的(de)(de)(de)(de)身世要處(chu)以(yi)(yi)酷刑并罰(fa)款；禁止行巫術(shu)；破壞他人(ren)耕地(di)者(zhe)要支付(fu)食(shi)物賠(pei)償；女奴(nu)對女主人(ren)不(bu)敬則予(yu)體罰(fa)。婦女在家庭中地(di)位低下(xia)，如犯通奸(jian)罪則處(chu)死(si)等等。這些條文充分表明了(le)當(dang)(dang)時(shi)立法(fa)已(yi)采(cai)用罰(fa)金賠(pei)款等方式逐步取(qu)代同態復仇。
從現在僅存(cun)的(de)(de)二十多條殘篇來看(kan)，涉及女(nv)奴的(de)(de)有(you)五條，她們(men)時(shi)常遭受(shou)強暴、買賣和毆打；有(you)兩條涉及寡(gua)婦，她們(men)的(de)(de)社(she)(she)會地位(wei)較之(zhi)女(nv)奴較好——法典(dian)(dian)序言提(ti)到不允(yun)許(xu)有(you)勢力的(de)(de)人支配寡(gua)婦，正文(wen)又(you)提(ti)到遺棄(qi)寡(gua)婦的(de)(de)男(nan)人應賠償一定(ding)數額的(de)(de)白銀(yin)；法典(dian)(dian)也涉及普通(tong)(tong)婦女(nv)，她們(men)的(de)(de)社(she)(she)會地位(wei)比女(nv)奴和婦女(nv)高，但較普通(tong)(tong)男(nan)子卑下。盡管(guan)法典(dian)(dian)中仍殘存(cun)著(zhu)讓河(he)神澄清妖術罪(zui)和妻子被控通(tong)(tong)奸罪(zui)的(de)(de)規(gui)(gui)定(ding)，但有(you)關身體傷害的(de)(de)處罰規(gui)(gui)定(ding)比原始的(de)(de)處罰有(you)了很(hen)大的(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)納姆(mu)（Ur-Nammu）約(yue)公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)(qian)2113年(nian)－公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)(qian)2096年(nian)在(zai)位阿(a)卡(ka)德王(wang)國滅(mie)亡后(hou)，蠻族庫(ku)提人統(tong)治蘇美(mei)爾(er)(er)(er)地(di)區，雖然其間有些蘇美(mei)爾(er)(er)(er)城邦(bang)保持著(zhu)相對的(de)(de)(de)(de)獨立和繁榮。公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)(qian)2120年(nian)，漁(yu)夫出身的(de)(de)(de)(de)烏(wu)(wu)魯克(ke)人烏(wu)(wu)圖赫(he)(he)(he)(he)加爾(er)(er)(er)起(qi)兵自立為烏(wu)(wu)魯克(ke)王(wang)，并(bing)且(qie)打敗了(le)庫(ku)提人，俘獲了(le)庫(ku)提人的(de)(de)(de)(de)末代國王(wang)梯里(li)根（Tiriga），烏(wu)(wu)圖赫(he)(he)(he)(he)加爾(er)(er)(er)占領烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)后(hou)任(ren)命烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納姆(mu)治理烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)。烏(wu)(wu)圖赫(he)(he)(he)(he)加爾(er)(er)(er)與烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納姆(mu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)關系現在(zai)仍是(shi)(shi)(shi)史學界研究(jiu)的(de)(de)(de)(de)課題，一說烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納姆(mu)是(shi)(shi)(shi)烏(wu)(wu)圖赫(he)(he)(he)(he)加爾(er)(er)(er)的(de)(de)(de)(de)弟弟，另(ling)一說烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納姆(mu)則是(shi)(shi)(shi)烏(wu)(wu)圖赫(he)(he)(he)(he)加爾(er)(er)(er)的(de)(de)(de)(de)女婿。但(dan)可(ke)能在(zai)烏(wu)(wu)圖赫(he)(he)(he)(he)加爾(er)(er)(er)尚(shang)在(zai)世時，烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納姆(mu)就(jiu)已(yi)經與他(ta)反(fan)目(mu)為仇，不(bu)臣服于他(ta)了(le)。約(yue)公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)(qian)2112年(nian)，烏(wu)(wu)圖赫(he)(he)(he)(he)加爾(er)(er)(er)死于一場意外（或者可(ke)能是(shi)(shi)(shi)陰謀(mou)）。此后(hou)烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納姆(mu)南征北戰，繼阿(a)卡(ka)德王(wang)國以后(hou)，統(tong)一整個(ge)美(mei)索(suo)不(bu)達米(mi)亞，建立起(qi)了(le)強大的(de)(de)(de)(de)中央集(ji)權制王(wang)朝(chao)。（另(ling)一強大的(de)(de)(de)(de)蘇美(mei)城邦(bang)拉格什于約(yue)公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)前(qian)(qian)2110年(nian)被(bei)征服）烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納姆(mu)留給后(hou)人一部《烏(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納姆(mu)法(fa)典》，今天考古所得的(de)(de)(de)(de)只是(shi)(shi)(shi)這部法(fa)典的(de)(de)(de)(de)一小部分。
《烏爾(er)納姆(mu)法典(dian)》是部成(cheng)熟的法律，蘇美爾(er)文(wen)明的法制(zhi)體系已經(jing)(jing)經(jing)(jing)歷了很長時間的發(fa)展(zhan)。雖然如此，《烏爾(er)納姆(mu)法典(dian)》但仍然可視為人(ren)類文(wen)明史上現(xian)存的最早(zao)的成(cheng)文(wen)法。
歲月靜好 
