Which code is credited as the oldest for prescribing savage punishment, but is not the earliest?

The correct answer is the Sumerian Code. The Sumerian Code is often credited with being one of the earliest known legal codes, containing provisions for various punishments, some of which could be quite harsh. However, it is the Code of Hammurabi that is broadly recognized as imposing particularly severe penalties for a range of offenses and is often referenced in discussions of legal history for its codification of laws and punishments.

The Sumerian Code represents an important development in the realm of law and governance but does not hold the same notoriety as the Code of Draco or Hammurabi's Code, which both prescribed brutal punishments and are cited more frequently. The Code of Draco, specifically, is well-known for its harshness and “draconian” measures, laying the groundwork for a legal system that defined severe punishment as a means of maintaining order. Therefore, while the Sumerian Code is significant, it is not recognized for savagery to the same extent as the other codes mentioned.

In the scope of your question, the focus is on the historical context of the codes, where the Sumerian Code serves as a foundational legal framework but lacks the extreme punitive character of the Hammurabic and Draco codes, which