Hammurabi's Code of Laws was one of the earliest known codes of law set down by the Babylonian king Hammurabi around 1780 BC. The code established consistent rules for criminal and civil law that helped govern Babylonian society. It outlined specific penalties for crimes ranging from theft to assault that were based on the social status of the individuals involved. Hammurabi's Code was an important early example of a civilization establishing a set of written laws to govern behavior and resolve disputes.