This course introduces the legal traditions of ancient Mesopotamia (3rd–1st millennium BCE) through the analysis of primary sources in translation. Students will explore concepts of law and justice, the role of writing in legal culture, and the relationship between law, society, and institutions. Readings include law collections (Ur-Namma, Lipit-Ištar, Hammurabi, Middle Assyrian), contracts, and court records, with discussions on topics such as women’s legal status, debt, and fairness, fostering critical and comparative perspectives.