Iraq

Iraq
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Conventional long name	Republic of Iraq
Native name	جمهورية العراق (Arabic), کۆماری عێراق (Kurdish)
Capital	Baghdad
Largest city	Baghdad
Official languages	Arabic, Kurdish
Government type	Federal parliamentary republic
Leader title1	President
Leader name1	Abdul Latif Rashid
Leader title2	Prime Minister
Leader name2	Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani
Area km2	438,317
Population estimate	43,533,592
Population estimate year	2023
Currency	Iraqi dinar
Time zone	AST
Drives on	right

Iraq. The modern nation-state of Iraq is a sovereign country in West Asia, whose territory encompasses the heartland of the ancient Mesopotamian civilization, including the famed city of Babylon. As the cradle of some of humanity's earliest cities, writing systems, and legal codes, Iraq's historical and cultural significance is immense, directly rooted in its ancient past. Its contemporary political and social landscape is profoundly shaped by this deep history, as well as by its strategic geography and vast petroleum resources.

Geography and Demographics

Iraq is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the south, Jordan to the west, and Syria to the northwest. It has a narrow coastline on the Persian Gulf. The country's geography is dominated by the fertile alluvial plain of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, the historic region of Mesopotamia, which was the foundation for the Sumer, Akkadian Empire, and Babylonian Empire. The north is mountainous, part of the larger Zagros Mountains range. The population of Iraq is ethnically and religiously diverse, with a Arab majority and significant Kurdish, Turkmen, Assyrian, and other minorities. The official languages are Arabic and Kurdish, with Syriac and Turkish also recognized in certain regions. Religiously, the country has a Shia Muslim majority and a substantial Sunni Muslim population, alongside smaller communities of Christians, Yazidis, and Mandaeans.

History from Ancient Mesopotamia to Modern Iraq

The land that is now Iraq is often called the "Cradle of Civilization." It was home to the world's first known cities, such as Uruk and Ur, and saw the invention of cuneiform script by the Sumerians. Successive empires rose and fell, including the Akkadian Empire under Sargon of Akkad, the Old Babylonian Empire under Hammurabi—famous for the Code of Hammurabi—and the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II. Later, the region became a core province of the Achaemenid Empire, the Seleucid Empire, the Parthian Empire, and the Sasanian Empire. In the 7th century, the Muslim conquest of Persia brought the region into the Caliphate, with the Abbasid Caliphate establishing its capital at Baghdad, which became a global center of learning during the Islamic Golden Age. The area was later ruled by the Ottoman Empire for centuries until the aftermath of World War I, when it became a League of Nations mandate under British administration. The modern Kingdom of Iraq gained independence in 1932. The 20th and 21st centuries have been marked by political instability, including the 14 July Revolution, the long rule of the Ba'ath Party and Saddam Hussein, the Iran–Iraq War, the Gulf War, the 2003 invasion of Iraq by a U.S.-led coalition, and subsequent sectarian conflict and insurgency, including the rise and fall of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Cultural Heritage and Archaeological Sites

Iraq possesses an unparalleled wealth of archaeological sites that are the physical legacy of ancient Mesopotamia. The ruins of the city of Babylon, near modern Hillah, are among the most famous, featuring reconstructions of the Ishtar Gate and reminders of the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Other paramount sites include Ur, the reputed birthplace of the prophet Abraham; Nineveh, the capital of the Neo-Assyrian Empire; Nimrud; and Hatra, a fortified desert city from the Parthian period. The National Museum of Iraq in Baghdad houses a vast collection of Mesopotamian artifacts, though it suffered significant looting in 2003. This cultural heritage faces ongoing threats from conflict, neglect, and illicit trafficking. The deliberate destruction of sites like Mosul's Al-Nuri Mosque and artifacts in the Mosul Museum by the Islamic State highlighted the vulnerability of this shared human history. International efforts, including those by UNESCO which has designated several Iraqi sites as World Heritage Sites, are crucial for preservation.

Political and Economic Landscape

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