Hammurabi ruled for the Babylonian Empire for over 40 years approximately 3750 years ago and created the first written code of laws. Below are excerpts from Hammurabi's Code. If the wife of a person has been caught while lying with another man, they shall bind them and throw them in the river… If a son has struck his father, his hands shall be cut off… If a man has divorced his wife, who has not borne him a child, he shall pay over to her as much money as was given for her bride price… If a man breaks into a house, they shall put him to death in front of the house and they shall bury him there…. If a fire breaks out in a house and a man who goes to extinguish it...Take(s) the household property of the owner of the house that man shall be thrown into fire… If a builder has built a house...And has not made his work sound, and the house he built has fallen, and caused the death of the owner, that builder shall be put to death… CLAIM EVIDENCE EXPLANATION