The Code of Hammurabi, a legal text written about 1700BC. It is among the oldest legal texts known today.

Stele with the actual text, Louvre museum

Law is a set of rules decided by a particular place or authority meant for the purpose of keeping the peace and security of society.

Courts or police may enforce this system of rules and punish people who break the laws, such as by paying a fine, or other penalty including jail. In ancient societies, laws were written by leaders, to set out rules on how people can live, work and do business with each other. In most countries today, laws are written and voted on by groups of politicians in a legislature, such as a parliament or congress, elected (chosen) by the governed peoples. Countries today have a constitution for the overall framework of society and make further laws as needed for matters of detail. Members of society generally have enough freedom within all the legal things they can choose to do. An activity is illegal if it breaks a law or does not follow the laws.