The following passages are excerpted from the Laws of Eshnunna, a kingdom in northern Babylonia contemporary with the early part of the First Dynasty in Babylon (circa 1894 - circa 1595 B.C.E.) and conquered by Hammurabi as he expanded his kingdom to the north. The laws are preserved on three tablets that are later copies of the original, which—like other law collections—may have been inscribed on a stone stele for public display. The name of the ruler who wrote these laws, composed circa 1770 B.C.E., is not preserved. The provisions address a wide variety of situations (such as theft, fugitive slaves, marital rights, and vicious dogs) as well as economic and financial matters. Whatever king of Eshnunna wrote the laws, it is clear that his conception of justice for his people included fair...