Iraq

https://www.cia.gov/library/publi cations/the-world-factbook/geos/iz.html || F lag and Significance ||
 * http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/iraq.htmlFacts and Statistics**
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 * History summary || History Timeline || Historical Enemies ||
 * Historical Conflicts || Map of Country
 * Traditional Cultures || Traditional Clothing || Traditional Food ||

History summary

Iraq is a country that has had plenty of rulers and each has come and gone. For example Iraq was first ruled by the Sumerians from 3000 to 2350BC. After the fall of the Sumerians it became a part of the Akkadian Empire for the short period of 238 years. Iraq then became a part of the Ur the third’s Empire from the year 2112 to 2004BC. The Ur the third Empire fell and Iraq then broke up into small “towns” which were governed by a number of random rulers from 2004 to 1600BC. Then from 1600 to 609BC Iraq was a part of the Assyrian Empire. After the fall of the Assyrian empire it then became a part of the Neo-Babylonian Empire from 626 to 539BC. Then from 539BC to 637AD it was ruled under the Persians and Greeks. IT then was ruled by the Arabs from 637 to 1258AD. Then from 1258 to 1432AD Iraq was under the rule of the Mongols. Then from 1432 to 1508AD Iraq was under the control of the Turkmen tribes. After the fall of the tribes Iraq then came under the rule of the Safavids of Iran from 1508 to 1534AD. Iraq then became a part of the Ottoman Empire for the long period of1534 to1918AD. Iraq then became a part of British rule for the years of 1918 to 1932AD. Then gaining independence from Britain in 1932 Iraq was ruled by a number of different dictators until in 2005AD Iraq was eventually governed by the people.

Timeline

- Suddam Hussein is hanged.
Enemies As a whole Iraq has only a few enemies like Syria, Egypt, Turkey, and Kuwait which are realy only border grudges. There is still some resentment between Great Brittain and Iraq because how they were treated durring the time that British ruled but that scar is almost healed. Then Iran, Iran is not realy one of Iraq's enemmies because there are great political freindships and family ties between the two. Realy the situation betwee Iraq and Iran is like two little boys who share the sme room, fighting over whose side is whose and where the boundry line is.

Historical Conflicts

Iraq can be mostly separated into three groups, the Kurds, the Shiites, and the Arabs. When a ruler was appointed at least one of the three groups didn’t like how Iraq was being run. So they would gather up their armies and try to take over. But each little civil war was defeated or won at such a costly price that they couldn’t find a way to defend themselves from other country’s attacks. Which is why when Iraq sided with the Germans during WWI, Great Britain promptly took over Iraq and took it out of the war. After a few years of recovery Iraq became strong enough to rebel and it became its own country again. Then there wasn’t a single ten-year period during which at least two different rebellions took place. Then unfortunately the great country of Iraq came under rule of the dreaded Saddam Hussein who thought that a previous Iranian revolution had weakened Iranian defenses and attacked. After eight years of Iraq and Iran circling each other a truce was accomplished and Iraq and Iran became best buds again. Then for another couple of years Iraq didn’t get along with Kuwait who along with British help was able to keep its independence from Iraq. Then after some stupid terrorist attacks against the U.S. Iraq was promptly invaded and Saddam’s army was defeated and self-government was set up. But even though Saddam was defeated and hanged a constant civil war is still going on.

Map Along Iraq's borders are Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan. Iraq gained access to the Persian Gulf when Iran gave Iraq a small bit of land where Iraq's three main rivers joined and entered into the Persian gulf, In return Iran was able to use the same waterways without being taxed. Aside from those three major rivers, two lakes and alot of smaller rivers Iraq is a sea of sand with thin dried river beds. But where there is water there is a great amount of vegetation and towns. Up to the north there are some mountainous regions.

flag and significance three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the Takbir (Arabic expression meaning "God is great") in green Arabic script is centered in the white band; the band colors derive from the Arab Liberation flag and represent oppression (black), overcome through bloody struggle (red), to be replaced by a bright future (white)

Culture Even though the main religion is muslim you can still find a christain here and there. But you can devide the muslims into two groups, the Sunnis and the Shia. Both are pretty much iddenticle twins but if you look close enogh you can find some small differences. Like the differences in who you can marry or how to pray or even what you can inherit. Family honour is of great importance to Iraqis. If you do something wrong like show your emotions in public it brings shame to the entire family. Hospitality is one of Iraq’s main features, guests are treated as if they were kings and to be invited to one’s house is a great honour, it is also stated that you can enter someone’s house without being invited and stay for three days before they can even ask why you are here or when you are going to leave.

Clothing The majority of Iraqi women dress conservatively. Some women dress in clothes that do not cover their faces or hair, while others cover them. For example, a very conservative woman might wear a long black garment called "abayah" that covers her body from the shoulders down to her feet. Under this cover she could be wearing a traditional Arabian dress in full body length with long sleeves or she could be wearing the latest style from an internationally known designer. In addition to the abayah, a very conservative woman would also wear a face and head cover while some others would not. The majority of men wear a long sleeved one-piece dress that covers the whole body, called a "dishdashah" or "thoub". During summer, the dishdashah is usually made of white cotton to reflect sunlight. In winter, the dishdashah is made from heavier fabric such as wool and comes in darker colors. With the dishdashah men also wear a 3-piece head cover. The bottom piece of this head covering is a white cap that is sometimes filled with holes. This cap, called "thagiyah", is used to hold the hair in place. On top of the thagiyah is a scarf-like head cover that comes in two types: a light, white head cover called "gutrah" which is worn in summer, and a heavy red and white checked head cover called "shumag" which is worn during winter. These head covers protect the head from direct sunlight and can be used to cover the mouth and the nose during sand storms or cold weather. On top of the thagiyah and the gutrah is the "ogal", which is a black band surrounding the top of the head to hold everything else in place. When male children reach puberty they are taught to wear the head covering as a sign for entering manhood.

Food Iraqi cuisine has a long history going back some 10,000 years - to the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians and ancient Persians. Tablets found in the ruins left by these ancient peoples show recipes prepared in the temples during religious festivals - in reality the first cookbooks in the world. Iraq, the Mesopotamia of the ancients, was home to many dazzling and sophisticated civilizations, highly advanced in their times, in all fields of knowledge, including the culinary arts. However, it was in the medieval era when Baghdad was the capital of a large Muslim Empire that the Iraqi kitchen reached its zenith. However, after the destruction of Baghdad by the Mongols in 1258 A.D., this world-class cuisine declined, but was somewhat revived in the last century by the commercial and cultural interaction with the countries of the Mediterranean area and the world beyond. Today, the foods of Iraq reflect this rich inheritance as well as strong influences from the culinary traditions of Turkey and Iran and the Greater Syria area. Because of all these traditions and complex influences, Iraqi cuisine is enormously rich and varied.