Which civilization emphasized law codes?

• A. Rome
• B. Greece
• C. Egypt
• D. Sumer

Answer: (D)

Law codes written down to govern behavior show an organized approach to justice and governance. Sumer, in southern Mesopotamia, gave us some of the earliest known written law codes, with Ur-Nammu’s code dating to around 2100 BCE. These laws laid out explicit rules and penalties on matters like marriage, property, and punishment, demonstrating a centralized effort to regulate society through formal statutes. While later civilizations in the region and beyond—such as the Babylonians with Hammurabi’s code, as well as Egypt, Greece, and Rome—developed influential legal systems, the emphasis on creating and enforcing codified written laws begins with Sumer. This makes Sumer the best answer to the question.