The history of Iraq dates as far back as 5000 B.C. as Mesopotamia (Greek for "between rivers") and the region is often called the "cradle of civilization" by archaeologists and historians alike. Some of the earliest known examples of writing have been found in Iraq and archaeological evidence reveals that some of the first mathematics, engineering, sciences and philosophy were produced there. Centuries of great rulers positioning for power, such as Cyrus the Great (sixth century B.C.) and Alexander the Great (fourth century B.C.), caused different cultures and influences to rise to prominence in the area that was by then known as Persia. The Islamic conquest of Persia allowed the development of the city of Baghdad as the commerce and cultural capital of the area in the eighth century A.D. However, the Mongol invasion of the thirteenth century decimated Baghdad. Subsequent rulers included Ottoman Turks (1500s) Georgians (mid 1700s to mid 1800s) and back to the Ottomans until World War I. After World War I, Iraq was subject to Britain until it was granted independence in 1932. In 1941, a U.K. invasion occurred to secure oil supplies to the Allies, but independent rule was established after the war, in the 1950s. A series of government overthrows over the next few decades led up to Saddam Hussein rising to power in 1979. A series of conflicts with Western nations has resulted in two wars.
The country of Iraq is roughly the size of California and consists of mostly desert. Two major rivers cut through the center of Iraq, the Euphrates and the Tigris. The area between the rivers is the main agricultural area of the country due to the fertility of the soil. Northern Iraq is mountainous, with the land leveling out as it heads towards the Persian gulf. Mild winters and dry summers mean that the climate is typical of a desert, with most of the precipitation occurring in the mountain areas. The country of Iraq only has a little bit of land touching the Persian Gulf near the city of Umm Qasr, making that area quite significant for shipping and transportation.
Iraq is one of the major oil producing nations of the world, with only Saudi Arabia having more oil reserves. Amazingly, most of the oil producing regions of Iraq remain unexplored and undeveloped, leading many to believe that the region holds even more vast amounts of oil. Because Iraq's production costs associated with oil are so low, Iraqi oil is extremely desirable. Oil and oil-related industries make up more than 90 percent of Iraq's foreign exchange earnings.
The Iraqi people are diverse in ethnicity and religion. More than 75 percent of Iraq is Arab, while around 20 percent are ethnic Kurds. The rest of the population consists of Assyrians, Turkish, Persians and Armenians. Only 3 percent of Iraq's citizens are Christian or another religion besides Muslim, which comprises 97 percent of the population. However, various subgroups within the Muslim religion (such as Sunni and Shiite) have caused political and religious conflicts over the years. Because of decades of conflict, emigration experts estimate that just under 2 million Iraqis have fled to neighboring countries. As of early 2008 statistics, Iraq's population was just over 28 million people.
Iraqi culture is rich in tradition and history. Traditional national dishes consist of lamb, beef, fish and poultry prepared with chickpeas, lentils and a variety of vegetables such as potatoes, eggplant and okra. Masgouf is a popular food and consists of crispy grilled fish brushed with oil and spices. Dolma is another popular dish and is essentially seasoned vegetables rolled in grape leaves and baked. Iraqi traditional music used instruments not common in Western culture, such as the rebab, a type of stringed instrument.
