Ancient Iraq - Contribution of Mesopotamian Empires - Essay Example

The contributions of Mesopotamian empires to different fields in society cannot be overemphasized. The Mesopotamian empires made significant contributions in the fields of medicine, governance, art, and science. Unfavorable weather conditions required urgent remedies to counter the issues such as drought. Artificial irrigation was brought into force to irrigate the lands and boost the agricultural sector. The annual agricultural activities brought about the development of a calendar. The calendar was used as an observation tool to study the sky, moon, and stars. The development of the sexagesimal numeral system helped in calculations such as the distance moved by the planets. These developments were significant contributions to science.

         The Mesopotamian empire's contribution to the governance system has formed the basis of government structures and organization in the modern dispensation. A centralized government system emerged from the demonstration by the Mesopotamian empires. A centralized governance system emerged as a result of better organization of communities and single plans.

         Contributions to medicine began in the Mesopotamian empires and the evidence is inscribed within the code of Hammurabi. The code provides evidence of physicians from the Babylonian side who operated patients’ knives. The physicians were to undergo serious punishments in the event of the death of an individual. Diagnosis of various sicknesses and diseases was also introduced. Consequently, there were handbooks for herbal medicines and the various areas of their use. Modern art can be traced from the Mesopotamian empires, especially ancient art and pottery. Different forms of art such as mosaics, stone sculptures, and megalithic arts inspired the emergence of arts in other parts of the world.