Quantitative Geographical Analysis Of The Ancient Civilizations Of Iraq

Abstract

The study aims to draw global attention to the innovative geographical approaches that distinguished the ancient civilizations of Iraq. By employing mathematical and statistical techniques to analyze the spatial distribution of cities—methods somewhat analogous to modern Geographic Information Systems (GIS)—the research examines the locations of three pivotal cultural capitals (Ur, Babylon, and Ashur) within this framework. Through calculating their spatial mean, the findings reveal that the Babylonian civilization uniquely excelled in applying quantitative geographical methods. The spatial mean was identified near the ancient city of Babylon, approximately 200 kilometers from its location, despite the Babylonian Empire’s territorial reach extending far beyond the administrative boundaries of modern Iraq. Historical records indicate that the empire encompassed parts of present-day Iran, Turkey, and Syria, stretching westward to the Mediterranean Sea.This study underscores the advanced geographical planning and analytical sophistication of the Babylonians, highlighting their pioneering role in integrating quantitative spatial analysis a precursor to contemporary GIS methodologies.