IV · Record & Permanence
Codex
Key Insight
The code outlasts the kingdom
Duration of active legal authority across the ancient world, in years
600
450
300
150
0
years of active authority
90
140
210
340
480
600
Ur-Nammu
Assyrian
Hittite
Twelve Tables
Hammurabi
Laws of Manu
c. 1754 BCE