Although not the first attempt to set down a system of laws through which to govern, the Code of Hammurabi was one of most elaborate early attempts. The work was completed in the last years of Babylonian King Hammurabi's life, and he hoped it would help future rulers manage society. It is most known for the first mention of lex talionis, or 'an eye for an eye', however it also included broad rules for everything from marine law to witchcraft accusations to divorce. In many ways the rules were quite ahead of their time, suggesting that a woman has a right to financial compensation if a man divorces her, and should be free to remarry. Although punishments were still quite arcane, and often involved being thrown into a river and allowing the gods to decide your fate.
Bonus 1:
Atop the pillar upon which the Code of Hammurabi is inscribed is a carving of the ancient Semitic sun god, Shamash, handing wisdom to Hammurabi. The name of this god is still preserved in the Arabic word for sun, شَمْس (Shams).
Bonus 2:
Some East Asian cultures measure their ages starting roughly at conception (meaning they are considered to be one year old at birth), and also add a year each new year. That means that if a baby is born the day before the new year, by the time they are one day old by western standards they would be considered to be 2 years old in East Asia.
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