One of the early developments in criminal law related to the idea that people should not be put to death for every crime they committed. This principle can be traced back to the Code of Hammurabi
What was the Code of Hammurabi
The Code of Hammurabi, developed by the Babylonian king Hammurabi, prescribed specific punishments for various offenses.
While it did include the death penalty for certain crimes, it also recognized the concept of proportionality in punishment. In other words, the severity of the punishment was intended to match the severity of the crime.