The Center for the Revival of Heritage Organizes a Panel Discussion “Climate Change in Iraq and Its Impact on Ancient Civilizations in Iraq.”
The Department of Human Studies at the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage, University of Baghdad, held a panel discussion on Tuesday morning, 17/2/2026, at 10:00 a.m., entitled “Climate Change in Iraq and Its Impact on Ancient Civilizations in Iraq.” The event took place in the hall of Professor Nabila Abdul-Munim Dawood and was attended by a number of faculty members and researchers.The session was chaired by Professor Dr. Salar Ali Khudr, Head of the Department of Human Studies, while the lecture was delivered by Professor Dr. Khamees Dahham Muslih Al-Sabahani from the Department of Geography and Geographic Information Systems, College of Arts – University of Baghdad. In his lecture, he addressed the impact of ancient climate changes on the course of human civilizations in Mesopotamia.He explained that the region experienced cycles of humidity and drought, which directly affected patterns of human settlement and the agricultural economy dependent on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. He noted that ancient societies reorganized their economic, political, and administrative systems in response to these changes, particularly through the development of irrigation systems and water management..Al-Sabahani also pointed out that the impact of climate extended beyond the economic sphere to influence social and intellectual structures, as reflected in beliefs and myths related to floods and fertility. He emphasized that human adaptability and innovation were among the most important factors in the استمرار (continuity) of civilizations in the region. The panel concluded with several recommendations, أبرزها (most notably) the need to support interdisciplinary research combining climatology, archaeology, and ancient history, as well as to expand the use of Geographic Information Systems technologies for reconstructing the environmental landscape of Mesopotamia and understanding the civilizational transformations the region has undergone throughout history.
