The Code of Hammurabi (circa 1754 BCE) remains a foundational text for understanding the interplay between law and social order. Its relevance unfolds in five dimensions:

1. Proportionality in Justice: The “eye for an eye” principle (Laws 196, 200) foreshadows modern sentencing guidelines that emphasize proportional punishment;
2. Property Rights as Economic Infrastructure: Clauses protecting land ownership and trade contracts mirror contemporary legal frameworks for capitalism;
3. Anti-Corruption Mechanisms: Strict penalties for judicial misconduct (Law 5) prefigure modern anti-bribery statutes;
4. Social Stratification and Law: The code’s explicit bias toward elites exposes how legal systems historically entrench power hierarchies—a challenge still faced in addressing systemic inequality;
5. Collective Responsibility: Innkeeper liability for harboring criminals (Law 109) resonates with modern anti-money laundering regulations requiring corporate compliance.
   For instance, the three-year debt slavery clause (Law 117) finds parallels in modern bankruptcy laws offering debt discharge, illustrating law’s role in balancing creditor rights and debtor rehabilitation. Yet, the code’s divine authority contrasts with secular legal positivism, underscoring the evolution of legitimacy from theology to democratic mandate.