- Hammurabi was the ruler of the Babylonian Empire in Mesopotamia and is famous for creating one of the first written legal codes. - The Code of Hammurabi consisted of 282 laws covering most aspects of daily life, established consistent punishments for crimes, and applied equally to all people in Babylonian society. - The code brought stability and order to Babylonian civilization by making clear what was legal and illegal and the consequences of unlawful actions.