歷史上最早的(de)(de)(de)成文(wen)(wen)法典(dian)是(shi)古代西(xi)亞烏爾(er)(er)第三王(wang)朝創始者烏爾(er)(er)納姆頒(ban)布的(de)(de)(de)。它適(shi)(shi)應奴(nu)隸(li)(li)(li)制(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)發(fa)展，主要(yao)用(yong)(yong)來保護奴(nu)隸(li)(li)(li)占有和(he)私有制(zhi)經(jing)濟，鎮壓奴(nu)隸(li)(li)(li)和(he)貧(pin)民(min)的(de)(de)(de)反抗。這(zhe)(zhe)部(bu)法典(dian)大(da)部(bu)損壞，只剩(sheng)殘片。烏爾(er)(er)第三王(wang)朝（約公元前2113~前2006年）創始人(ren)烏爾(er)(er)納姆（約公元前2113~前2096年在位）建立(li)了強大(da)的(de)(de)(de)中(zhong)央集權制(zhi)度，總攬全國大(da)權，統一兩(liang)河流域的(de)(de)(de)法律，適(shi)(shi)應奴(nu)隸(li)(li)(li)制(zhi)的(de)(de)(de)發(fa)展和(he)奴(nu)隸(li)(li)(li)主鎮壓奴(nu)隸(li)(li)(li)反抗的(de)(de)(de)需要(yao)，緩和(he)自(zi)由民(min)內部(bu)的(de)(de)(de)矛盾，他下令用(yong)(yong)蘇美爾(er)(er)文(wen)(wen)（楔形文(wen)(wen)字）寫成了一部(bu)適(shi)(shi)用(yong)(yong)于烏爾(er)(er)全境的(de)(de)(de)法典(dian)，這(zhe)(zhe)便(bian)是(shi)《烏爾(er)(er)納姆法典(dian)》。
法(fa)典包括(kuo)序(xu)言(yan)和(he)(he)正(zheng)文29條（傳下來的(de)只有23條）兩大部分，沒(mei)有結語，主(zhu)要涉(she)及政治(zhi)、宗教和(he)(he)法(fa)律等方面。序(xu)言(yan)宣稱，是神授予烏(wu)爾納姆(mu)統治(zhi)權(quan)力，烏(wu)爾納姆(mu)在(zai)人(ren)世間的(de)行(xing)為是按照神意，確立「正(zheng)義」和(he)(he)「社會秩序(xu)」，并列舉了(le)他在(zai)保護貧弱、抑制豪強等方面所(suo)采取的(de)措施。
現(xian)已(yi)發現(xian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)最早抄本大(da)約(yue)是(shi)巴比倫(lun)時(shi)代的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)，但大(da)部(bu)分(fen)已(yi)毀損，僅(jin)存幾條殘片。從破(po)損較嚴(yan)重的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)法典(dian)殘片看，法典(dian)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)主(zhu)要(yao)內容(rong)是(shi)對奴(nu)隸制(zhi)度(du)、婚姻、家(jia)(jia)庭(ting)、繼承、刑罰(fa)(fa)(fa)等(deng)方面的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)規定(ding)。如：第一次離婚支付1米(mi)納(na)(na)白銀，而第二次離婚應當(dang)支付1/2米(mi)納(na)(na)白銀，通(tong)奸者將(jiang)被(bei)處(chu)死；強暴自己的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)女(nv)(nv)奴(nu)者將(jiang)被(bei)課以5西(xi)克爾(er)罰(fa)(fa)(fa)金；作偽證將(jiang)被(bei)處(chu)以罰(fa)(fa)(fa)款(kuan)；斗(dou)毆中(zhong)打折骨頭需支付1米(mi)納(na)(na)白銀，損傷腳需支付10西(xi)克爾(er)；外國(guo)人(ren)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)土地(di)被(bei)淹(yan)沒，每0.3公(gong)(gong)頃土地(di)將(jiang)給(gei)予3古爾(er)（約(yue)900公(gong)(gong)升大(da)麥）補償(chang)；將(jiang)逃亡奴(nu)隸捉(zhuo)回的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)奴(nu)隸主(zhu)要(yao)給(gei)捕捉(zhuo)者適當(dang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)報酬(chou)；傷害(hai)他人(ren)的(de)(de)(de)(de)(de)身世要(yao)處(chu)以酷刑并罰(fa)(fa)(fa)款(kuan)；禁止行巫術；破(po)壞他人(ren)耕地(di)者要(yao)支付食物賠(pei)償(chang)；女(nv)(nv)奴(nu)對女(nv)(nv)主(zhu)人(ren)不敬則(ze)予體罰(fa)(fa)(fa)。婦女(nv)(nv)在家(jia)(jia)庭(ting)中(zhong)地(di)位低下，如犯通(tong)奸罪則(ze)處(chu)死等(deng)等(deng)。這(zhe)些條文(wen)充分(fen)表明了當(dang)時(shi)立法已(yi)采用罰(fa)(fa)(fa)金賠(pei)款(kuan)等(deng)方式逐步取(qu)代同態(tai)復仇。
從(cong)現在僅存(cun)的(de)(de)二(er)十多條(tiao)殘篇來看，涉(she)及女(nv)奴的(de)(de)有五條(tiao)，她們時常遭受強暴(bao)、買賣和(he)毆打(da)；有兩條(tiao)涉(she)及寡婦(fu)，她們的(de)(de)社會地位較之女(nv)奴較好——法典序(xu)言提到不允許有勢力的(de)(de)人(ren)支配寡婦(fu)，正文(wen)又提到遺棄寡婦(fu)的(de)(de)男人(ren)應賠償(chang)一定(ding)數額的(de)(de)白(bai)銀；法典也(ye)涉(she)及普(pu)通(tong)(tong)婦(fu)女(nv)，她們的(de)(de)社會地位比(bi)女(nv)奴和(he)婦(fu)女(nv)高，但(dan)較普(pu)通(tong)(tong)男子卑下。盡管法典中仍(reng)殘存(cun)著讓河(he)神澄清妖(yao)術罪和(he)妻子被控通(tong)(tong)奸罪的(de)(de)規定(ding)，但(dan)有關身體傷害的(de)(de)處罰(fa)(fa)規定(ding)比(bi)原始(shi)的(de)(de)處罰(fa)(fa)有了(le)很大的(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)爾(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)（Ur-Nammu）約公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)前(qian)2113年(nian)(nian)－公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)前(qian)2096年(nian)(nian)在(zai)位阿(a)卡(ka)德王(wang)(wang)(wang)國滅亡后，蠻族庫提(ti)人(ren)(ren)統治蘇(su)美爾(er)(er)(er)地(di)區(qu)，雖然(ran)其間有些蘇(su)美爾(er)(er)(er)城邦(bang)保(bao)持著相對的獨立和繁榮(rong)。公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)前(qian)2120年(nian)(nian)，漁(yu)夫(fu)出身(shen)的烏(wu)(wu)(wu)魯克人(ren)(ren)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)起兵自立為烏(wu)(wu)(wu)魯克王(wang)(wang)(wang)，并且打敗了(le)庫提(ti)人(ren)(ren)，俘獲(huo)了(le)庫提(ti)人(ren)(ren)的末代(dai)國王(wang)(wang)(wang)梯里根（Tiriga），烏(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)占領烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)后任命烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)治理烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)。烏(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)與烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)的關(guan)系現在(zai)仍是(shi)史學界研究(jiu)的課題，一說(shuo)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)是(shi)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)的弟弟，另一說(shuo)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)則(ze)是(shi)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)的女婿。但可能(neng)在(zai)烏(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)尚在(zai)世時，烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)就已經與他反目為仇(chou)，不臣服于(yu)他了(le)。約公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)前(qian)2112年(nian)(nian)，烏(wu)(wu)(wu)圖(tu)(tu)(tu)赫(he)加(jia)(jia)爾(er)(er)(er)死于(yu)一場意外（或者可能(neng)是(shi)陰(yin)謀(mou)）。此后烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)南(nan)征北戰，繼阿(a)卡(ka)德王(wang)(wang)(wang)國以后，統一整(zheng)個美索不達(da)米亞，建(jian)立起了(le)強大(da)的中央(yang)集權制王(wang)(wang)(wang)朝。（另一強大(da)的蘇(su)美城邦(bang)拉格什于(yu)約公(gong)(gong)元(yuan)(yuan)前(qian)2110年(nian)(nian)被征服）烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)留(liu)給后人(ren)(ren)一部(bu)《烏(wu)(wu)(wu)爾(er)(er)(er)納(na)姆(mu)(mu)(mu)法典》，今(jin)天考古(gu)所得的只是(shi)這(zhe)部(bu)法典的一小部(bu)分。
《烏(wu)爾(er)納姆法(fa)典》是部成熟的法(fa)律，蘇美爾(er)文明的法(fa)制體系已(yi)經(jing)經(jing)歷(li)了(le)很(hen)長時間的發展。雖然如此，《烏(wu)爾(er)納姆法(fa)典》但仍然可視(shi)為(wei)人類(lei)文明史上現存的最(zui)早的成文法(fa)。
歲月靜好 
