Which ancient code is described here as containing 282 laws and is among the earliest written laws?

Which ancient code is described here as containing 282 laws and is among the earliest written laws?

• A. Code of Hammurabi
• B. Twelve Tables
• C. Mosaic Law
• D. Justinian Code

Answer: (A)

Laws that organize daily life and punish violations are a way to standardize justice across a society. The Code of Hammurabi fits this idea perfectly: crafted by the Babylonian king Hammurabi and carved on a stele, it lays out 282 specific laws that cover trade, property, family, and personal injury. This codified set is widely recognized as one of the earliest complete collections of written laws, showing how a ruler sought to regulate behavior across a large empire. The other options describe important legal traditions but come later or in different contexts. The Twelve Tables were early Roman public laws, Mosaic Law is biblical law governing Israelite society, and the Justinian Code is a later compilation from the Byzantine era. So the description of having 282 laws and being among the earliest written codes points to the Code of Hammurabi.

Laws that organize daily life and punish violations are a way to standardize justice across a society. The Code of Hammurabi fits this idea perfectly: crafted by the Babylonian king Hammurabi and carved on a stele, it lays out 282 specific laws that cover trade, property, family, and personal injury. This codified set is widely recognized as one of the earliest complete collections of written laws, showing how a ruler sought to regulate behavior across a large empire.

The other options describe important legal traditions but come later or in different contexts. The Twelve Tables were early Roman public laws, Mosaic Law is biblical law governing Israelite society, and the Justinian Code is a later compilation from the Byzantine era. So the description of having 282 laws and being among the earliest written codes points to the Code of Hammurabi.