Iraq

Welcome to Iraq

Iraq is a country located in West Asia, also known as the Middle East. Due to its rich culture and divergent landscapes, it is known as the “cradle of civilization” in the world. This region was home to some of the earliest, primitive civilizations throughout history, such as Sumer, Akkad, Babylon, Assyria, and Nineveh, and they are considered as the centers of human beings. As a result, this is the land where first writing, agriculture, and urbanization evolved. Furthermore, after World War I, in 1932 Iraq gained independence and in 1958 it became a republic and was referred to as the Republic of Iraq. Nonetheless, Iraq’s geography is fascinating due to its divergent landmarks, varying from deserts to mountains and waterfalls. Henceforth, deserts have dominated the western and southwestern lands, however, the upper parts of Iraq, known as Kurdistan, have been dominated by valleys, waterfalls, rivers, and high mountains, especially the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, known for its agricultural activities.

Baghdad, the capital and largest city of Iraq, is the center of education and cultural significance. It was first founded by the Abbasid Caliph al-Mansur in 762 AD. Since then this city has become the major pinpoint of commerce, education, and culture. It is also known as the “city of peace” (Madinat al-Salam) in the Islamic World. Many scholars and writers from around the world came to this city in order to study, analyze, and translate philosophical and scientific texts. Baghdad is home to over 7 million people and renowned for its remarkable landmarks and cultural scenes. Despite the numerous challenges that this city has faced, it has remained the center of culture and wisdom. Not only that, but Baghdad provides many magnificent places for its visitors such as the National Museum of Iraq, where you can dive into the earliest human civilizations. Zawraa Park is a large park, an amusement park, and a zoo. And if you want to visit the heart of Baghdad and a haven of books, Al-Mutanabbi Street is the perfect place for you. Or you can visit the most beautiful architecture and spiritual place, Al-Kadhimiya Mosque.

Erbil, another city, is located in the northern part of Iraq and capital city of the Kurdistan Regional Government. This city embraces the history of over 8000 years and it was home to numerous empires throughout the history of human beings, including Assyrians, Sumerians, Babylonians, Greeks, Parthians, Arabs, and Ottomans. Consequently, the Erbil Citadel is well-known for holding the cultural heritage and human history and many discoveries about the early civilizations have been found there. Moreover, there are many places that you can visit and cherish the beauty that this city offers, such as Erbil Citadel, Sami Abdulrahman Park, Qaysari Bazaar, and Kurdish Textile Museum. That is not all, you can also try the most delicious dishes there like Dolma, kofta, shifta, Biryani, and Mohalabi.

Interesting Facts About Iraq:

• Iraq is home to the world’s oldest civilization.
• The world’s oldest writing came into existence in Iraq.
• In Arabic, the name Iraq means “deeply rooted, well-watered; fertile.”
• Based on Arabic poetry, ‘maqam’ is the traditional music of Iraq.
• ‘Reading of fortunes in the constellations’ and ‘the fear of black cats’ were all invented in Iraq, as per archaeologist Leonard Woolley.