Morality

Identifying a particular moral code is often presented as a basis for organizing society.

Thomas Jefferson actually edited the bible, took out all references to miracles, and utilized just the words of Jesus and created what he thought was a bare bones moral code for our new country. This was his enlightenment "bible."
Reason, as a moral code, Jefferson reasoned is a moral guideline and should undergird the moral code of this country competing with our bibilical ones. It, too, is a competitor with the biblical strain, adding to it our ideas around freedom, justice and equality grafted on from the French revolution.
But this moral tradition goes back beyond the Romans where pagans attributed spirits to nature itself, worshipping idols, cats, mythical figures, and, with Romans and Egyptians, the Emperor, and Pharoah as being divine unto themselves.
The moral authority of these spiritual leaders ultimately comes from an ultimate god or spirit which imbues the leader with divine qualities. 

Nature itself is the ultimate authority which the individual on earth takes on natures' attributes. 
The Divine Rights of Kings has come down to us recently and now is yet with us to some extent.
So, we see the right to rule itself comes from Nature itself, or from God, who blesses a human here on earth, a spiritual leader or a king, or even a warlord.
But aside from power and authority, what does nature itself imbue to authority. It is the ultimate mystery and power of nature itself, it's awe, its fearsome power, its magical aspects, it's total hugeness while men and women seemed small and weak.

Of course, we have in some quarters, those who see humankind's rise as rising to the level of control over nature and even above it or controlling it.

But other lessons on the moral side pour forth and have been asserted:

1. Nature has given me and my lineage the right to rule
2. Nature has given me the power and might and this is a sign of favor by nature

3. I have seen a vision and have a calling and capacity to heal you and others

4. I have the vision and the capacity to provide salvation to you and yours after death
5. I have a unique understanding of how you and yours should behave on this earth and if you follow these maxims, you will maximize your chances of reaping benefits after death.
6. I have conquered you as a people, and my heirs have a right to rule all who live within my nations boundaries. It is a version of "might makes right."

So morality, a moral code for humans to abide by,  are directly or indirectly been asserted over the centuries.

Having a sense of what is right, proper, correct and moral varies over the centuries and from culture to culture, but it is always there, and seems to be an inherent need in human kind.

Next we look at ethics. It is different than morality.