The civilization credited with the development of the earliest known legal codes is the ancient Mesopotamia, particularly the Sumerians, who created the Code of Ur-Nammu around 2100-2050 BCE. However, the most famous early legal code is the Code of Hammurabi, established by the Babylonian king Hammurabi around 1754 BCE. This codex laid down laws and corresponding punishments, showcasing the principle of justice and establishing regulations that governed various aspects of daily life. These legal codes were among the earliest systematic laws and served as a foundation for civil law systems in later cultures.