Department of History Discusses Natural Disasters in Iraq in a Joint Scientific Seminar
The Department of History at the College of Education for Humanities, University of Samarra, in cooperation with the College of Arts at Tikrit University, organized a scientific seminar entitled “Natural Disasters in Iraq during the Abbasid Era: Floods as a Model.” The seminar was held as part of a joint academic activity concerned with historical studies from a civilizational perspective.
The seminar was moderated by Professor Dr. Wael Kulaib Mutlak, and presented by Professor Dr. Saad Aidan Abdullah from the College of Arts at Tikrit University, and Assistant Professor Dr. Muhannad Sultan Ali. The presenters opened the seminar by discussing the floods that Iraq experienced during the Abbasid era and the ways they were addressed, in accordance with the intellectual and organizational foundations adopted by the state and society to ensure the continuity of life.
Dr. Abdullah then explained the historical framework of floods in Iraq during the Abbasid period and their impact on the economic and social realities of that era.
For his part, Dr. Ali highlighted the contribution of both the state and society in mitigating the effects of these phenomena by adopting innovative solutions, such as building dams, digging water canals, and organizing irrigation systems. These measures helped reduce damage and made effective use of water to irrigate vast areas of agricultural land.
The seminar concluded with a set of scientific recommendations presented by the lecturers, emphasizing that studying historical experiences constitutes a fundamental basis for understanding contemporary challenges and for investing civilizational expertise in supporting paths of sustainability and progress. The seminar also came in line with ministerial directives calling for the discussion and treatment of environmental issues and natural disasters, given that history is one of the disciplines that studies these topics within their historical context.
