Final answer:
The Code of Hammurabi is considered the first set of comprehensive written laws to govern a society, dating back to around 1780 BCE.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first set of comprehensive written laws to govern a society was the Code of Hammurabi. Dating from about 1780 BCE, it detailed the rights and obligations of Babylonians and included various legal distinctions and protections within a structured system. The Code of Hammurabi was a significant step in legal history and influenced the legal systems of Mesopotamia for many centuries following the reign of the Babylonian king Hammurabi.