The civilization attributed with one of the earliest known legal codes is the Babylonian empire, specifically through the Code of Hammurabi. Instituted by King Hammurabi around 1754 BCE, this legal code is one of the oldest deciphered writings of length in the world. It consisted of 282 laws that covered various aspects of daily life, including trade, family relations, and property issues, and they were intended to ensure justice and order. The code is particularly noted for its principle of retributive justice, famously summed up in the phrase "an eye for an eye." Hammurabi's Code profoundly influenced legal systems in later civilizations.