Hammurabi was the ruler of Babylon who is known for creating the first written legal code, known as the Code of Hammurabi. This code is one of the oldest and most well-preserved legal codes in history, dating back to around 1754 BCE.

Background:
- Hammurabi was the sixth king of the First Babylonian Dynasty, ruling from 1792 to 1750 BCE.
- Babylon was an ancient city-state located in present-day Iraq, and Hammurabi sought to unify and strengthen his empire through a comprehensive legal system.

Creation of the Code:
- The Code of Hammurabi consists of 282 laws engraved on a seven-foot tall basalt stele, which was placed in a public location for all to see.
- Hammurabi claimed that the laws were divinely inspired by the god Shamash, the god of justice, and he presented himself as the agent of the gods in establishing justice and maintaining order in society.
- The code covered a wide range of topics, including family law, property law, trade and commerce, labor law, and criminal law.
- It aimed to provide a clear set of rules and punishments that would govern the behavior of individuals and maintain social order.

Key Features of the Code:
- The code was based on the principle of "lex talionis," or "an eye for an eye." This meant that punishments were often retaliatory and meant to fit the crime.
- It established different classes of people, with different punishments and rights depending on their social status.
- The code also included regulations regarding contracts, property rights, and business transactions, reflecting the importance of commerce in Babylonian society.
- It emphasized the role of the government in maintaining order and justice, with harsh punishments for those who disrupted the social order or failed to follow the law.

Legacy and Influence:
- The Code of Hammurabi had a significant impact on subsequent legal systems in the ancient Near East.
- It influenced the legal codes of other Mesopotamian civilizations and laid the foundation for the development of later legal systems, including those of ancient Greece and Rome.
- The code also provided a model for the concept of a centralized government with the authority to establish and enforce laws.
- While the laws were not entirely equitable or fair by modern standards, they represented a significant step towards the development of a written legal code and the establishment of justice in ancient Babylon.