The country of Iraq covers the region known in ancient times as Mesopotamia, a Greek word meaning “land between the rivers.” The name refers to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The fertile valley between these great waterways made the region an attractive site for some of the world's earliest civilizations. Today Iraq is one of the world's leading oil producers. The capital is Baghdad. GeographyIraq is located in southwestern Asia in a region called the Middle East. It borders Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf to the southeast, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the south, and Jordan and Syria to the west. - Palm trees line the Euphrates River in north-central Iraq.
Iraq covers an area of 167,975 square miles (435,052 square kilometers). The central and southeastern parts of the country are made up of plains containing many lakes. Marshy lowlands surround the area where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet, near the Persian Gulf. North of the plains, between the rivers, is a dry plateau known as Al-Jazirah. Western and southern Iraq is a vast desert region. Highlands in the northeast include the mountainous region known as Kurdistan. Summer temperatures in the plains and deserts are very hot, and winter temperatures are generally mild. These regions receive little rainfall. The northeast is cooler and wetter, especially in the mountains. Dust storms occur throughout the country during most of the year. Plants and animalsIraq has millions of date trees. It has very little forestland, however. Willows, poplars, and licorice plants grow along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The marshlands are covered with reeds and tall grasses. Plant life is sparse in the deserts and on the dry plains. The wild animals of Iraq include hyenas, pigs, jackals, foxes, and rabbits. Among the many varieties of birds are ducks, partridges, and snipes as well as herons and others native to the marshes. Water buffalo are raised in the marshlands. People and cultureArabs make up three quarters of Iraq's population. They speak Arabic, which is the country's official language. The largest ethnic minority is the Kurds. They speak a language related to Farsi (Persian) and live in the north and northeast. They have long tried to become independent but have been unsuccessful. Almost all Iraqis are Muslims. The majority of Iraqis live in cities and towns. Baghdad, the capital, is by far the largest city. Rural Iraqis have a tribal heritage dating back generations. Most of them have farmed the land or raised livestock all their lives. In the cities and towns, people lead modern lifestyles similar to those in the West. Arts, literature, and science have flourished in Iraq since ancient times. Many of the Arab world's greatest philosophers, poets, and writers have come from Baghdad. A number of famous archaeological sites are located in Iraq, and objects from these sites are displayed in the Mosul Museum and the Iraq Museum in Baghdad. Some of the objects from the museums and the archaeological sites were stolen or damaged after U.S.–led troops overthrew the government of Iraq in 2003. EconomyOil was discovered in Iraq in 1927. Since then Iraq has been a major oil producer. Oil accounts for almost all of the country's earnings from trade. The country's manufacturing industries developed rapidly in the late 20th century. The main products include oil products, iron and steel, chemicals, construction materials, and processed foods. Food, medicine, and consumer goods are imported. Iraq's trade suffered due to the Persian Gulf War of 1991 and the trade restrictions that lasted long after the war. Agriculture remains an important part of Iraq's economy. Crops include barley, wheat, watermelons, tomatoes, dates, and grapes. Many sheep and cattle are raised. However, this activity as well as many other parts of the economy were greatly disrupted by the fighting in 1991 and 2003. HistoryIraq's history reaches back thousands of years. In about 3300 BC, in the southern part of Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Sumerians created one of the world's first civilizations. Later the region was ruled by the great powers of Babylonia and Assyria. The Persians took control of Mesopotamia in about 540 BC. They ruled until Alexander the Great conquered the area in about 330 BC. Arab and Ottoman ruleBeginning in the 2nd century BC, Mesopotamia spent hundreds of years as a battleground between various peoples. Weakened by warfare, the region was conquered by Muslims from Arabia in the 7th century AD. For a time Baghdad was the center of the Muslim world. In 1258 the Mongols conquered the city. Iraq then became a land of small kingdoms. The Ottoman Turks took control of the area in the 16th century. Iraq remained part of the Ottoman Empire until the 20th century. The republic of IraqDuring World War I (1914–18) British troops occupied Baghdad, ending Ottoman rule. After the war Iraq remained under British protection. A monarchy was established in 1921, and the country achieved full independence in 1932. A revolution led by a group of army officers ended the monarchy in 1958. Iraq was then declared a republic. In the 1960s and 1970s the Iraqi government faced a rebellion by the Kurds. The rebels were fighting to achieve self-government. Iran provided military aid to the Kurds, which strained relations between Iraq and Iran. The Kurdish rebellion collapsed in 1975, but occasional fighting continued into the 21st century. Iran-Iraq and Persian Gulf warsSaddam Hussein became Iraq's president in 1979. A year later Iraq invaded Iran, starting a war that lasted until 1988. Neither side won a clear victory. In 1990 Saddam ordered Iraqi troops to invade the neighboring country of Kuwait. Iraq claimed that Kuwait had been part of its territory since 1871. The invasion led to the Persian Gulf War of early 1991. In less than two months, a group of nations led by the United States pushed Iraq's forces out of Kuwait. Ongoing troublesAt the end of the Persian Gulf War, Iraq agreed to allow weapons inspectors from the United Nations (UN) into the country. The inspectors were to make sure that Iraq destroyed some of its weapons and stopped making more. Despite the agreement, Iraq resisted the inspections. The Iraqi government said it would not cooperate with the UN until strict trade restrictions were ended. The restrictions were imposed at the beginning of the war. They prevented other countries from trading with Iraq. This led to food and medicine shortages in Iraq. Because of Iraq's continued refusal to cooperate with the weapons inspectors, the United States and Great Britain launched an air attack on the country in late 1998. Air strikes on a smaller scale had been common throughout the 1990s and continued into the 21st century. A more massive attack began in March 2003, when troops from the United States and Great Britain invaded the country as a result of the ongoing dispute. Saddam Hussein immediately went into hiding following the initial invasion, and the foreign troops soon took control of the country. Saddam was captured by U.S. troops in December 2003. The foreign forces faced continuing attacks from Iraqis as they tried to establish a transitional government. Population (2003 estimate), 24,683,000. |