What significant contribution do you see the Old Babylonian Period made to the Near East?

Answer 1

The Old Babylonian period was one in which centralized government worked for the better both of the ruling elite but also of the peasantry (which almost always comprised about 95% of the populations of ancient societies). Through the use of control, the governmental organizational structure was able to develop its own infrastructure, from roads to canals, from flood control projects to places for popular gatherings.

Naturally this could be open to abuse but the basic idea was there and it worked for creating a civilized environment that was not all that different from what we experience today.