The correct answer to this open question is the following.
The rulers of the ancient Mesopotamian empire attempted to bring together and control the peoples within their realm creating a set of laws or codes so people could obey and knowing that if they didn't, there were consequences to their acts that could be punished.
For instance, the best example of these Mesopotamian ancient times could be the Hammurabi Code in Babylon.
King Hammurabi ruled Babylon from 1792 to 1750 BC. He created this code throughout all the Babylonian territory until south of the Euphrates River. Historians consider that this is the oldest legal code in human history.
The code included 282 articles or precepts that people had to follow in daily interactions and trade transactions, and include severe punishment if the code was disobeyed.