Final answer:
In ancient near Eastern traditions, a worldwide flood was believed to be caused by the gods being disturbed by the noise made by humans. This belief was not exclusive to the Old Testament.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Ancient near Eastern traditions outside the Old Testament, a worldwide flood was believed to be caused because the gods were disturbed by the noise made by humans. The gods were seen as fickle and easily angered, and they could bring death and destruction through floods and pestilence as a form of punishment or retribution.
The belief in a worldwide flood was not exclusive to the Old Testament. Similar flood stories can be found in ancient Mesopotamian myths, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh. In these stories, the motivation for the flood is often attributed to the gods being annoyed or angered by humans.
Overall, the ancient Mesopotamians' view of the gods as easily stirred to anger and their belief in the destructive power of floods contributed to a generally pessimistic worldview.