Final answer:
King Ashurbanipal was responsible for collecting and preserving ancient writings from Mesopotamian kingdoms, and he established the great library in Nineveh that is an important source of ancient Middle Eastern culture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The individual responsible for collecting and preserving ancient writings from the old Mesopotamian kingdoms and creating a library for them was King Ashurbanipal. He was an Assyrian king who reigned from 668 to 627 BCE and is credited with establishing the renowned library in Nineveh. King Ashurbanipal's interest in the cultural and intellectual heritage led him to order the collection of texts from all over his kingdom, including those from conquered lands. The library he created housed a vast array of documents, which has become one of the most essential sources for understanding the ancient Middle East's beliefs, languages, and literature. While other Mesopotamian rulers, like Hammurabi and Sargon the Great, are known for their respective contributions to Mesopotamian culture and law, it was Ashurbanipal who actualized the significant cultural preservation project of gathering and safeguarding the region's literary works.