The country of Iraq, personally, has always been alluring amongst all the countries on the world map. From being in a constant state of turmoil, to being in the limelight of the media, the country of Iraq has been in the eye of scrutiny for decades now. When one talks or reports about Iraq, it is usually about the conflicts and suppression faced by the people, therefore the true history and origin of the country is hidden beneath the more pressing matters.
Once known as Mesopotamia, Iraq was the site of flourishing ancient civilizations, including the Sumerian, Babylonian, and Parthian cultures. Modern Iraq covers almost the same area as ancient Mesopotamia, which centered on the land between the Euphrates and the Tigres Rivers. In the medieval era, Iraq was the name of an Arab province that made up the southern half of the modern-day country. Today, Islam is the state religion of Iraq, and95% of the Iraqi population identify with the Arab culture. The Iraqi Muslims are split into two groups, namely the Sunnis and the Shias (Shiites). While the Sunnis are a majority in Islam, they are a minority in Iraq, and the Shias, a minority in the Islamic world, are a majority in Iraq. The conflict between these two groups is a constant one. The mountainous and hilly northern part of Iraq is occupied by the Kurds, who live in a politically autonomous settlement. The provinces of Sulaymaniyah, Dahuk, and Erbil are regions occupied by them, and these regions are commonly referred to as Kurdistan. While three fourths of the population of Iraq comprise of Arabs, the Kurds consist of about one-fifth. The rest of the population is divided into several ethnic groups such as Assyrian, Armenian , Turkoman, Chaldean, Jewish, and Yazidi.
Beginning from pre-history, Mesopotamia has been under the power of numerous civilizations. It was in 4000 B.C during which the land belonged to the Sumerian civilization. The civilization helped building irrigation systems, developed the earliest form of writing, and produced great forms of literature. The Sumerian thought process was very different from their Egyptian counter parts. While the Egyptian’s believed that all land belonged to the Pharaoh, the Sumerians believed in the right to private property, which is still an important practice followed to this day in Iraq.
The Sumerian civilization collapsed in the year 1700 B.C. It was during this time that the ruler King Hammurabi, took over the area and renamed it Babylonia. Hammurabi was a great monarch who was responsible for creating the first recorded legal code in history. The country went through many changes in power until Nebuchadnezzar II came to rule from 604 to 562 BC., and restored Babylon to its former glory. Presently, Babylon is approximately forty-eight kilometers south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
Babylonia had become a part of the Persian Empire until the Arab Muslims overtook it eventually. At the time of the invasion, the majority of the population was Christians and was forced to pay non-Muslim tax to the invaders. The Persians were eventually defeated, and the people of the region began converting to Islam. This led to numerous intermarriages with Arabs.
The capital city of Baghdad was formed in the 8th century by the then ruling empire-the Abbasid Caliphate. It soon became an important cultural, educational, and commercial center and linked Asia to Mediterranean countries via trade. The city welcomed visitors, scholars, traders, and was the center of the production of incredible philosophical and scientific works by both Arab and Persian thinkers.
From the Arab rule of the Abbasid Caliphate, the transfer of power went to the Mongols. The invasion by the Mongols took place in the 1200s, and they ruled strong till the 1400s. The 16th century brought about a new rule, the Ottoman Turks. Their reign lasted till the end of World War I. The Ottoman Empire was defeated in the war and since they had sided with Germany and were amongst the Central Powers, the League of Nations assigned Britain to set up the administration of the original land of Mesopotamia which had been under the rule of so many.
The British finally defined the territory of Iraq but hardly paid any attention to natural boundaries and ethnic division. They set up an institutional framework for government and politics, and were responsible for the installation of a monarch. Nominal independence from the British mandate was achieved in 1932. The imposed Hashemite monarchy was eventually overthrown on 14th July 1958, and Iraq was declared a Republic. The ten years that followed were laden with much political instability.
The Ba’ath party took over after 158, and created a dictatorship. From July 1979 to March 2003, Iraq was ruled by Saddam Hussein who also belonged to the Ba’ath party. The invasion of the U.S. in 2003, resulted in overthrowing the Hussein regime, as he was accused of many heinous crimes. It was during this time that The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) assumed administrative and security responsibility for Iraq. On june 28th 2004, the CPA transferred power to the Iraqi Interim Government. A new 4-year constitutionally-based government took office in March 2006, and the new cabinet was installed in May 2006. On June 31st 2009, U.S. troops withdrew from the urban areas of Iraq, and this brought about a sense of reinforced Iraqi sovereignty. On March 7th 2010, a second round of national elections was held to choose the members of the Council Of Representatives, and therefore the executive branch of the government. By August 2010, the U.S. forces in Iraq drew down to 50,000 troops, and entirely departed on December 18th 2011 with a conclusion of a security agreement.
The history of Iraq has involved numerous civilizations, toms of invasions, and has been at the mercy of many rulers. The country has witnessed countless invasions, and is known for its constant perilous atmosphere. It is true that many reforms have been made, and changes have brought about a sense of progress, but the country of Iraq has a lot more to accomplish. Leaving the past as mere history, the country needs to work towards making its future a less turbulent one.
ZAHRA AMIRUDDIN-3742
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