The Hammurabi Code, enacted around 1754 BCE, significantly impacted subsequent legal systems by establishing one of the earliest known sets of written laws. The code introduced the principle of "lex talionis," or the law of retaliation, where punishments were directly related to the offense (e.g., "an eye for an eye"). These laws aimed to provide justice and regulate societal behavior, influencing legal thought in ancient civilizations and beyond. Subsequent legal codes, such as those of the Roman Empire and modern Western legal systems, reflect the principles of codification and the rule of law rooted in Hammurabi’s efforts to standardize justice and maintain order.