歷史上最早的(de)(de)成文法(fa)(fa)典是古代西亞(ya)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)第三(san)王朝創始者烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)納姆(mu)頒布的(de)(de)。它(ta)適應奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)制的(de)(de)發展，主(zhu)要用(yong)(yong)來保護(hu)奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)占有(you)和(he)私(si)有(you)制經濟，鎮壓奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)和(he)貧民(min)的(de)(de)反抗。這(zhe)部法(fa)(fa)典大(da)部損壞(huai)，只剩殘片(pian)。烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)第三(san)王朝（約公元前(qian)2113~前(qian)2006年）創始人(ren)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)納姆(mu)（約公元前(qian)2113~前(qian)2096年在位）建立(li)了強大(da)的(de)(de)中央(yang)集(ji)權(quan)制度，總攬全(quan)(quan)國(guo)大(da)權(quan)，統一(yi)兩河流域的(de)(de)法(fa)(fa)律，適應奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)制的(de)(de)發展和(he)奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)主(zhu)鎮壓奴(nu)(nu)隸(li)(li)反抗的(de)(de)需要，緩(huan)和(he)自由民(min)內部的(de)(de)矛盾，他(ta)下令用(yong)(yong)蘇美(mei)爾(er)文（楔(xie)形文字）寫成了一(yi)部適用(yong)(yong)于烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)全(quan)(quan)境的(de)(de)法(fa)(fa)典，這(zhe)便是《烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)納姆(mu)法(fa)(fa)典》。
法(fa)典包括序言(yan)和(he)正文(wen)29條（傳下來的只有(you)23條）兩大部分，沒有(you)結語，主要涉(she)及政治、宗教和(he)法(fa)律等方面。序言(yan)宣稱，是神授予烏爾納(na)姆統(tong)治權力(li)，烏爾納(na)姆在人(ren)世間(jian)的行為(wei)是按照(zhao)神意，確立「正義」和(he)「社會秩序」，并列(lie)舉了(le)他在保護貧(pin)弱、抑制豪強(qiang)等方面所(suo)采取的措(cuo)施。
現已(yi)發現的(de)最(zui)早抄本大(da)約是巴(ba)比倫(lun)時(shi)代(dai)的(de)，但大(da)部分(fen)已(yi)毀損，僅(jin)存幾條殘片(pian)。從(cong)破損較嚴重的(de)法(fa)典殘片(pian)看，法(fa)典的(de)主要內(nei)容(rong)是對(dui)奴隸制(zhi)度、婚(hun)姻、家庭、繼承、刑罰等(deng)方面的(de)規定。如：第一次離(li)婚(hun)支(zhi)(zhi)付1米納白銀(yin)，而第二(er)次離(li)婚(hun)應(ying)當支(zhi)(zhi)付1/2米納白銀(yin)，通(tong)奸者將被處死；強暴自己的(de)女奴者將被課(ke)以(yi)5西克爾(er)罰金；作(zuo)偽證將被處以(yi)罰款；斗毆中(zhong)打折骨頭(tou)需支(zhi)(zhi)付1米納白銀(yin)，損傷腳需支(zhi)(zhi)付10西克爾(er)；外(wai)國人的(de)土地被淹沒，每0.3公頃土地將給(gei)予(yu)3古(gu)爾(er)（約900公升大(da)麥）補償；將逃亡(wang)奴隸捉回(hui)的(de)奴隸主要給(gei)捕捉者適(shi)當的(de)報(bao)酬；傷害他(ta)人的(de)身世要處以(yi)酷(ku)刑并(bing)罰款；禁止行巫術；破壞他(ta)人耕地者要支(zhi)(zhi)付食物賠償；女奴對(dui)女主人不敬(jing)則予(yu)體罰。婦(fu)女在(zai)家庭中(zhong)地位低下，如犯(fan)通(tong)奸罪則處死等(deng)等(deng)。這些(xie)條文充分(fen)表(biao)明了當時(shi)立法(fa)已(yi)采用罰金賠款等(deng)方式逐步(bu)取代(dai)同(tong)態復(fu)仇。
從現在(zai)僅存的(de)(de)二(er)十多條殘(can)篇來(lai)看，涉及(ji)女(nv)(nv)(nv)奴的(de)(de)有(you)五條，她們時常(chang)遭受強暴(bao)、買(mai)賣和毆打；有(you)兩(liang)條涉及(ji)寡(gua)婦(fu)，她們的(de)(de)社會地位(wei)較(jiao)之女(nv)(nv)(nv)奴較(jiao)好——法(fa)典(dian)序言提(ti)到不(bu)允許(xu)有(you)勢力的(de)(de)人(ren)支配(pei)寡(gua)婦(fu)，正文又提(ti)到遺棄寡(gua)婦(fu)的(de)(de)男(nan)人(ren)應賠償一(yi)定數額的(de)(de)白銀；法(fa)典(dian)也涉及(ji)普通婦(fu)女(nv)(nv)(nv)，她們的(de)(de)社會地位(wei)比(bi)女(nv)(nv)(nv)奴和婦(fu)女(nv)(nv)(nv)高，但較(jiao)普通男(nan)子卑下。盡管法(fa)典(dian)中仍殘(can)存著讓河神澄清妖(yao)術罪(zui)和妻子被控通奸罪(zui)的(de)(de)規定，但有(you)關身體傷害(hai)的(de)(de)處罰規定比(bi)原始的(de)(de)處罰有(you)了很大(da)的(de)(de)進(jin)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)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)（Ur-Nammu）約(yue)公元(yuan)前(qian)2113年－公元(yuan)前(qian)2096年在(zai)位阿卡德(de)王國滅亡后，蠻族庫(ku)(ku)提人(ren)(ren)統(tong)治蘇美爾(er)(er)(er)(er)地(di)區，雖然其間有些蘇美爾(er)(er)(er)(er)城邦(bang)保持著相對的(de)獨立和繁榮。公元(yuan)前(qian)2120年，漁夫出身的(de)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)魯克(ke)人(ren)(ren)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)赫加爾(er)(er)(er)(er)起(qi)兵自立為烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)魯克(ke)王，并且打(da)敗了庫(ku)(ku)提人(ren)(ren)，俘獲了庫(ku)(ku)提人(ren)(ren)的(de)末代國王梯里根（Tiriga），烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)赫加爾(er)(er)(er)(er)占領烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)后任(ren)命(ming)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)治理烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)。烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)赫加爾(er)(er)(er)(er)與(yu)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)的(de)關系現在(zai)仍(reng)是(shi)(shi)史學界研究(jiu)的(de)課(ke)題，一說烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)是(shi)(shi)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)赫加爾(er)(er)(er)(er)的(de)弟弟，另一說烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)則是(shi)(shi)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)赫加爾(er)(er)(er)(er)的(de)女(nv)婿。但可(ke)能(neng)在(zai)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)赫加爾(er)(er)(er)(er)尚在(zai)世時，烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)就已(yi)經與(yu)他反目為仇，不(bu)臣服于他了。約(yue)公元(yuan)前(qian)2112年，烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)赫加爾(er)(er)(er)(er)死于一場意外(wai)（或者可(ke)能(neng)是(shi)(shi)陰謀）。此后烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)南征(zheng)北(bei)戰，繼阿卡德(de)王國以(yi)后，統(tong)一整個美索不(bu)達米(mi)亞，建立起(qi)了強大的(de)中央集權制王朝。（另一強大的(de)蘇美城邦(bang)拉格什于約(yue)公元(yuan)前(qian)2110年被征(zheng)服）烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)留給后人(ren)(ren)一部《烏(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)(er)納(na)(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)法(fa)典(dian)》，今天考(kao)古所(suo)得的(de)只是(shi)(shi)這(zhe)部法(fa)典(dian)的(de)一小部分。
《烏爾納(na)(na)姆(mu)法(fa)(fa)典》是(shi)部(bu)成(cheng)熟的法(fa)(fa)律，蘇美爾文(wen)明(ming)的法(fa)(fa)制體系已經經歷了很長時(shi)間的發展。雖然(ran)如(ru)此，《烏爾納(na)(na)姆(mu)法(fa)(fa)典》但仍(reng)然(ran)可視為人類文(wen)明(ming)史上(shang)現存的最早的成(cheng)文(wen)法(fa)(fa)。
歲月靜好 
