It's the same module everywhere on the planet.
Elaborations occur when the need to accommodate large groups comes into existence.
There are a number of variations on a theme ~ you can read about them in history ~ and then there are the degrees to which the leadership principle is used to allow some individuals to abuse others.
Some societies create a nobility that suppresses the broad masses ~ actually, almost all societies do that. 99.999% of known history is involved with the comings and goings of nobles.
0.001% of known history concerns a different form ~ for example, our own.
Hammurabi's Code was a public brief of the thoughts of the King and his nobles. It's purpose was to set the bounds of acceptable behavior, and to announce suitable punishments.
It was noted back during the Kelo v. New London CT discussions that the the USSC's vote to allow New London to force homeowners off their land to make way for other homeowners was prohibited in Hammurabi's code, and enforced with the death penalty for public officials who did that sort of thing
Later Hebraic Law and an ancient Jewish tradition paralleled Hammurabi's code perfectly.
So, no, Hammurabi's code isn't the basis of all our laws ~ he sought to control theft and official corruption ~ our courts don't care.
The Code of Hammurabi, from 1 to 282
Translated by L.W. King (1910)
Edited by Richard Hooker
http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/CODE.HTM
Excellent post. Freedom is fleeting as history proves.