The Cradle of Civilisation
Iraq occupies the historical territory of Mesopotamia — the “land between the rivers” (Tigris and Euphrates) where Sumerian civilisation invented writing (cuneiform, c. 3200 BC), the wheel, the 60-minute hour, and the first cities on Earth. Subsequently the territory hosted the Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, and Persian empires, then became the heart of the Islamic Caliphate under the Abbasids (Baghdad was the world’s largest and richest city in the 9th century).
Modern Iraq has been devastated by decades of war — the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), the Gulf War (1991), UN sanctions (1990-2003), the US invasion and occupation (2003-2011), and the ISIS occupation of northern Iraq (2014-2017). The country is now recovering, with Iraqi Kurdistan in the north particularly stable and developing tourism around its mountains and archaeological sites.
A Brief History
Mesopotamia — between the Tigris and Euphrates — was the cradle of civilisation. The region hosted Sumer, Akkad, Babylon, Assyria. Baghdad was founded in 762 AD by the Abbasid Caliphate and became the world’s largest city.
Mongol sacking 1258 ended the Abbasid period. Ottoman rule to WWI, British mandate 1920-1932, Hashemite Kingdom 1932-1958, republics and authoritarian rule (Saddam Hussein 1979-2003), US occupation, ISIS (2014-2017).
Geography and Climate
Iraq covers 438,317 km². Terrain includes the Mesopotamian plain (between Tigris and Euphrates), deserts, and the Kurdish mountains in the north.
Culture, Language and Religion
Arabic and Kurdish are official. Religion: approximately 95% Muslim (split between Shia ~55% and Sunni ~40%), with small Christian, Yazidi, and other minorities.
The Economy
Iraq has a resource-dependent economy (~$280 billion GDP in 2024). Oil exports dominate.
UNESCO Sites
Iraq has 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Hatra, Samarra Archaeological City, Ashur (Qal’at Sherqat), Erbil Citadel, The Ahwar of Southern Iraq (marshlands), and Babylon.
Travel Guide
Travel is restricted and challenging. Iraqi Kurdistan (Erbil, Sulaymaniyah) is accessible with separate visa-on-arrival (60-day visa-on-arrival for many nationalities at Erbil/Sulaymaniyah airports).
Surprising Facts
- Writing was invented in Iraq (ancient Sumer) around 3200 BC.
- Baghdad was the world’s largest city in the 9th century at the Abbasid Caliphate’s peak.
- The Code of Hammurabi (c. 1754 BC) — one of the oldest deciphered writings of significant length — was Babylonian.
- The biblical Tower of Babel is generally identified with the Etemenanki ziggurat in ancient Babylon.
- The Ahwar marshlands — drained by Saddam Hussein in the 1990s — are being re-flooded and restored.
- Iraqi Kurdistan — though not internationally recognised — functions as a de facto autonomous region with its own government, army, and visa policy.
Sources and References
See the frontmatter for cited sources.