The Laws of Hammurabi, or the Code of Hammurabi, is a code of law that dates back to ancient Mesopotamia, about 1754 BCE. The code was enacted by the sixth Babylonian King, Hammurabi. Because of this origin, the laws of Hammurabi can be considered a type of royal propaganda. What this means is that the code gives a partial and idealized view of society. It presents the king in a very good light, and portrays Babylonian society as ordered and just. Although the code is extremely useful in helping us understand this civilization, it is important that we do not take it as an absolute and undeniable truth when trying to learn about the characteristics of this society.