Whence Came Law?

Where did the institution of law come from? By “law,” I mean a body of directives, guiding the conduct of subjects in some state, that are general, written, published for their subjects, and made and enforced by a set of officials distinct from those subjects. Law in that sense came to humanity relatively late in its history. In aboriginal tribes, tribal life is guided by taboos, religious dogmas, customs, and the directions of tribal or family leaders. In the earliest civilizations, law complemented these other forms of social guidance, and in developed countries, law has largely displaced them. Today, the most influential models of law come from the West—in model statutes, constitutions, and international treaties. How did law emerge at first, and how have Western models of law come to dominate impressions of law across the globe?