The significant ancient document that outlines the laws of ancient Babylon is the Code of Hammurabi. Dating back to around 1754 BCE, it is one of the earliest and most comprehensive written legal codes in history. King Hammurabi of Babylon codified a series of laws and decrees inscribed on a stone stele, thereby establishing a legal framework intended to ensure justice and societal order. The code is famed for its principle of retributive justice, best encapsulated by the phrase "an eye for an eye." The Code of Hammurabi has had a lasting influence on the development of legal thought.