History of Iraq

#1

In this summary, 'Mesopotamia' is used for the region, while 'Iraq' is used from the time of the Arab conquest, around 637 AD. 3100 BC, this was the land of the civilization of Sumer, with delegated city states, which develops systems of irrigation, trade and writing. 500 years later, Akkadians moves into Mesopotamia.
Not quite three hundred centuries later, Sargon establishes an Akkadian kingdom.

The name Mesopotamia comes into being, and the region is unified as Sumer, and they make their first official enemies. About 200 years later there is a bloody invasion of Sumer by Elamites and Amoritts. In 1728- 1686 BC, Hammurabi, the most famous Amotittian ruler of Babylonia rises the zigguraut that stands as the Biblical Tower of Babel in the minds of the Jews who will later look upon it with awe.

This inspires the Kassites to take power over their once peaceful neighbors, and they do so for a few centuries. Around 1370 BC, Assyria starts to become a regional power. And begins a campaign that results in 1867, such that Kassites are driven out of power by the Elamites, and by 1120: Babylonia has become one of the strongest worldy powers acknolwdged by mankind. A strong power†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™¢¢¬…¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¦

Around 1000 BC, Arameans move into the Mesopotamian region. And within 350 years Babylon is destroyed by the Assyrians. Within thirty years, in 629 and until 539; There is a new Babylonian kingdom under the Chaldeans, during which the fall of Assyria happens and the Mesopotamian region is conquered by the Persians, by the leadership of Cyrus 2 the Great. Things deteriorate into a incestuous mass of political enemies until Conquest by Alexander the Great, who never spends much time in the city, as its political atmosphere is ripe with the fresh scent of Assassination.

About Fifteen years later, in 312 BC: the Greek Seleucid dynasty reigns in Mesopotamia, with Seleucia as capital, infusing Hellenistic culture and breeding a new appreciation for the teachings of Pythagoras. This is a time of prosperity and peace until 192-188: the bloody War between the Seleucids and the Romans, which rips apart the Seleucid dynasty, and Mesopotamia is once again conquered by the Persian dynasty Arsacids.

Mesopotamia becomes one of the richest provinces here, called Khvarvaran. Persians were the elite, while the Semits represented a clear majority of the population. The Semits spoke Aramaic, but there were several other peoples in the region, including the Sassanids, who launch a plan to take power in Iran. They had once based their capital in Ctesiphon in Iraq. Many people of this time belonged to Christian Nestorianism, but the religion of the elite was Zoroastrianism.

BY 637 BC, after the Byzantine war weakened the area politically and financially, Muslim Arabs defeat the Sassanids, and Mesopotamia was overtaken after only one year. The Sassanids we blindsided and too weak to fight. Islam lays eternal claim to this land, stating Allah made it so easy for them to fight people who were so depleted they had to send 9 year olds to the front lines.

About fifty years later, in 680, at the Battle at Karbala, the Shi'i- leader Husayn was killed when claiming himself Caliph, or †™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™¢¢¬‚¦‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦¢‚¬Å“King†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬?. This became the final schism between Sunnis and Shi'is, and thus was a tremendous event for the current political and religious climate of the middle east.

But three years later, there is once again unrest in the region. And within 15 years another †™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™¢¢¬‚¦‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦¢‚¬Å“caliph†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬? came forward. Within fifty years, his family is killed to its last members. and the Revolt by the Iraqi family Abbasi results in the overthrow of the previous ruling Caliphate family, the Ummawiys.

Top celebrate the Abbasi rising to power, a new capital for the Caliphate is founded, placed on the river Tigris, about 15 km north of Ctesiphon, the current capital. The new city is called Baghdad, and grows quickly into a beautiful city that is destined to become torn asunder by civil war over and over again.

By the 800†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¾¢‚¬Å¡‚¢s AD Civil war, Baghdad loses its position for some time, as there are several usurps for the position as Caliph. Within twenty years, stability returns to Iraq, and the Caliph al-Mamun returns to Baghdad.

Then, Samarra becomes the new capital of the Caliphate, because of the threat from self-willed Turkic mercenaries, which results in a long civil war between Baghdad and Samarra. Finally, Stability is restored, with the Abbasids as victors, but they are strongly weakened politically and economically. Baghdad is returned to the position as capital of the Abbasids and the Caliphate. The control is now restricted to Iraq alone.

Next is the kicker:

In 935 AD, The Nahrawan canal, the source of the irrigation system from the Tigris is destroyed by the Iraqis themselves, in order to prevent invasion. But it is never repaired. This leaves them no water flowing into the city regularly, Ten years later, Baghdad is taken over by the Caspian people Buyids, who were Shi'is who had earlier taken control over much of Iran. The Abbasids stayed in power, but only as puppets under the Buyids and openly had to accept them as their betters. Iraq was divided into small independent regions, and even Baghdad was split, and fights destroyed the economy of the region for decades up to the change of the millennium.

About 50 years later, a Turk of the sunni tribe called Seljugs, Togrul Bey, drives the Buyids out of Baghdad, and the period of the Seljuq kingdom starts with the blessing of the Abbasid Caliph. From 1060 the Seljuqs form a sultanate. This angers the Abbasids, who get back at the Seljuqs, and retake direct control over politics.

By 1245, an attack on Baghdad, by Mongols ends without success, but Bagdad is weakened, and Baghdad soon, after disastrous floods, falls to the Mongols. The city is destroyed, citizens are massacred, and the Caliph executed: The Caliphate is over, and the economy of Iraq is destroyed for centuries. Human slavery becomes a huge part of the economy of the region.

Two Hundred years later, Iraq falls under control of Turkish tribes from Anatolia.
and Iraq is put under Iranian Safavid control. Within 15 years, Iraq is conquered by the Ottoman Empire. The peace this brought, represented a clear improvement to Iraqi economy, primarily the in the agricultural sector.

Flash forward to the 17th Century, and you see in the area an increase of local power. British, Dutch and Portuguese interests get a foothold in trade in the region.
By, 1623 Baghdad is back under Safavid control. 15 yearsd later it is regained by the Ottomon. It stays that way, fueling huge slavery operations and working in large salt mines and plantations.
By 1700, Mamlukes are used to suppress tribal risings and Iranian infiltration, and they stayed to become a local ruling dynasty, ending in 1831, when direct Ottomon rule is responsible for deposing the Mamluke leaders who actually made the region less of a hotbed. This peaceful rule laid the foundations for tramways, and steamship ports and services. But the Ottomon lay the foundations for a war engine and point it once again at Europe. Thus, in 1914, and as a part of World War 1, British forces invade southern Iraq. Within three years, they begin to occupy Bagdad and depose the Muslim Turks.

In 1920, Arabs of southern Iraq start military actions towards the British, who the say did not fulfill their promises to leave the area to the locals after the Turks were defeated. The British responded military in the beginning, but soon realized that it would be impossible to control the area, and that the Turkish foundation was far thicker than originally thought.

Meanwhile, in 1921 Prince Faisal of Hijaz, now a southwestern part of Saudi Arabia wins a popular election, with 96% of the ballots, and is declared king of Iraq August 23. The new state did not get an easy birth, as the Shi'is in the south and the Kurds in the north fought for their independence. And outer forces, like Arabia in the south and Turkey in the north, tried to destabilize Iraq, and the cooperated with the Kurds to take control over the Mawsil area in the north. British forces stayed in the country, much because of a request from king Faisal. Next year, alliance with Britain is signed. And everyone is happy†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™¢¢¬…¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¦ or will be when the Kurds get their own country back. Then in 1925, more elections for a parliament is held. Concessions to search for oil are given to international companies, and America is asked to participate in the reseach to reap some of the rewards. A treaty declares that Iraq shall become independent from 1932, at America†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¾¢‚¬Å¡‚¢s recommendation. Then, Concessions in the north for oil winning is given to an international company, with no consideration to the initial agreements which have created a huge deficit in America. The Iraqi government is to receive fixed yearly royalties, with a portion going to those who have financed the expeditions. This is supposed to ease the possibility of fuel dependencies. True to form, in1932, in particular on October 3, Iraq is declared independent kingdom with King Faisal in power. Iraq is admitted to the League of Nations. Within a year, and buy dubious means, Faisal dies. His son, Ghazi, succeeds him.

Despite the death of a peaceful King, Pan-Arab attempts from Iraq, involving suggestions to merge Arab states are lobbied to the UN, for four years. A treaty of nonaggression is signed with Saudi Arabia, and things look good.

Except, then†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™¢¢¬…¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¦ in 1939, King Ghazi also dies. The area erupts and oil tensions are fist felt in this world.

A war of 4 weeks is fought against Britain, where after British control is regained. The British sees to that a pro-British government is formed. America maintains that it represents the people of Iraq. Then, it looks like things are going well, when in 1943, Iraq declares war on the Axis (headed by the Germans). But the Soviet Union†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¾¢‚¬Å¡‚¢s actions cause unrest among the Kurds, believed to be supported by the Soviet Union. Just in time for the American sponsored Treaty with Transjordan on mutual military and diplomatic aid. Israel declares independence and joins the Arab states in their attacks on the new country. Things look good and oil revenues increase for the next few years. The area will rebuild and maintain its international comraderie.
Direct parliamentary elections happen in 1953, and King Faisal II formally assumes throne, as he was only 3 when his father died. His reign begins a period of political instability, as USA tries to enhance its influence in Iraq, and talk about payment for the millions it now needs from its investments. Thus, in 1995, The Baghdad Pact is composed. This treaty is a military-security agreement between various countries; In the beginning Iraq and Turkey, later Britain, Pakistan and Iran.

In February of 1958 a Federation between Jordan and Iraq is formed, called Arab Union of Jordan and Iraq, with a common premier minister. It lasts for 5 months, and results in a Military coup, led by the general Karim Kassem, where the king, the crown prince and the prime minister were killed. The next month, at the behest of the UN, and from the Us support, a new government is proclaimed, and the Arab Union with Jordan is declared dissolved, and Iraq is to work for close relations with the United Arab Republic, which was established by Egypt and Syria earlier this year. Kassem acts to keep up Western confidence by not interfering with the oil production. We know better, because in 1959, Iraq withdraws from the Baghdad Pact and makes claims on Kuwait, which receives its independence that year.

0n February 8, 1963, Kassem is overthrown by a group of officers, mainly from the Ba'th Party. Abdul Salam Arif becomes the new president. His death three years later is the event followed by his brother Abdul Rahman Arif becoming president.
Within 1 year, he acts to make relations with the Western powers worse, following the Six-Day War. So, within weeks Arif is overthrown, and Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr becomes the new president. Iraq follows a politics of orientation away from the West, with improved relations with the Soviet Union.

After years of unrest, in 1970 the Iraqi governments agrees to form an autonomous Kurdish region, and Kurds are let into the cabinet. The nationalization of the oil industry starts, and by March of 1974 Fights between government forces and Kurdish groups break out sporatically. The Kurds received aid from Iran. Kurdish cities like Zakho and Qalaat Diza are razed to the ground, and hundreds of thousands of Kurds flee the cities and many are systrematically massacred. The US is called upon to settle the border disputes with Iran, and makes Iran stop aid to the Kurds, and the revolt is crushed. This requires direct intervention by the US troops and is called by the UN a duty, inreference to the US. So, in June of 1979, President Bakr is stripped of all positions and put in house arrest. Saddam Hussayn becomes new president with American support, because of his position on the Kurdish agenda and his opposition to Socialism and Communism.

August: Thanks to Hussein, about 400 members of the ruling Ba'th Party are said to have been executed, by the command of the new president. This caused unrest among Kurds, inspired by unrest in Iran, after the Islamic revolution there. Religious animosities in Iraq are linked to what is happening in Iran. Relations between the two countries are worsened as the Kurds refuse to adopt the †™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™¢¢¬‚¦‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦¢‚¬Å“NOW OFFICIAL RELIGION OF ISLAM.†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬? News to us†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™¢¢¬…¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¦

The agreement on Iraqi/Iranian borders from 1975 is then declared null and void by Saddam, who claims the whole Shatt el-Arab, a small, but important and rich landscape according to Muslim prophecy. Oh, shite†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™¢¢¬…¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¦

So, on September 22, who is surprised when Iraq invades Iran, and gets quickly control over Iranian land. This Israeli†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¾¢‚¬Å¡‚¢s see what†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¾¢‚¬Å¡‚¢s happening and decide to pull out of the Arab agenda, which LIKE THAT <snap> became the Muslim agenda. Anmd they do what any sensible people would do, they bomb a nuclear reactor outside Baghdad, hoping to Hiroshima the whole damn area.

So, now its Jews against Muslims†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™¢¢¬…¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¦ uh, what†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¾¢‚¬Å¡‚¢s Christiandom to do? Watch?

This leads to 1982 Counter offensive from Iran, reclaiming much of the land occupied by Iraq. Six years later, there is a cease fire with Iran to rebuild Iraq†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¾¢‚¬Å¡‚¢s military power, much with bank credits and technology from Western Europe and USA loans for the Kurds. Hussein initiates brutal actions against Kurds inside Iraq, where poisonous gas is used to kill thousands of civilians that we gave them relief to feed and shelter. His excuse is Iraqi Muslims need the money to be on par with American citizens and other worldly people. We tell Hussein give them their own country. He says they can have Kuwait, after we invade.

Damn†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™¢¢¬…¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¦

August 2 1990 marks the invasion and occupation of Kuwait promised thirty years ago. UN demands a withdrawal by January 15, 1991. In the interim, UN imposes heavy sanctions on Iraq, involving no trade regulations. They begin to attack aircraft, so, in September, UN imposes interdiction on air traffic to and from Iraq.
The UN commandiers and command assistance from US forces and bases in Saudi Arabia. On January 16 1991, International invasion from bases in Saudi Arabia begins, both occupied Kuwait and Iraq. Bombings were followed by movements of land troops. Tens of thousands of Iraqis killed, and most of the military infrastructure destroyed together with much of the civilian infrastructure. The Unsays pour it on harder. The US complies, and by March , a cease-fire is agreed between the allied international forces and Iraq, that includes Iraq footing the bill for the war, that Saudi Arabia already offered to pay for. The next month, Iraq suppresses rebellions in the south by Shi'is, and in the north by Kurds. Millions of Kurds flee to Turkey and Iran. US, British and French troops are eventually moved into northern Iraq, to set up refugee camps, and protect the Kurds from the Iraqi government. Iraq is presented with an international claim for compensation of 100 billion US by the UN, though the war cost 51 Billion according to the US. What about the other 49 Billion?

In 1992, Iraq is believed not to comply to UN demands to eliminate the remaining weapons of mass destruction, international sanctions are not lifted. Living conditions are worsening, food supplies are limited, prices rise, inflation strikes hard, and the infrastructure is only partly rebuilt and health system remains highly defective. The result is has been the death of now as many as 800,00 Iraqi children, and high numbers of adults. Pity the children who suffer for the men,..

1993 prompts new US military actions in Iraq, as Iraq †™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™¢¢¬‚¦‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦¢‚¬Å“forgot†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬? to remove police posts near the Kuwaiti border. Next year, and bitter with defeat, Iraq once again initiates government military actions against Kurds and the marsh Arabs (mainly Shi'is). By November, Iraq recognizes formally the sovereignty of Kuwait. We back off a bit, as Russia signs a deal with Iraq on upgrading the country's MiG jet fighters.

The second millineum AD, United Nations resume inspections following the unanimous resolution in the Security Council (no. 1441) and the threat from USA of an attack if Iraq does not comply. The aim of the inspections is to check if Iraq still has weaponry of mass destruction (bacteriological and chemical with long distance rockets to carry the material) and if the country has resumed its program of creating nuclear weaponry.

2003 February 5 we see Colin Powell presents proofs to the United Nations Security Council that Iraq still produces and holds weapons for mass destructions. People shit a brick as he pulls out a fake vial of Anthrax and shows us picytures of his kids dumptruck in the sandbox from satellite photos. Powell also maintains integrity as he presents proofs that there is a link between Iraq and Al-Qa'ida by the Kurdish group Ansar al-Islam. Western non-US affiliated inspectors to Iraq later declared Powell's proofs on mass destruction to be a "lie", and challenged that the US has never issued any arrest order on the leader of Ansar al-Islam living in full freedom in Oslo, the capital of Norway.

So, for my mom†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¾¢‚¬Å¡‚¢s late birthday present, March 20: USA and Britain starts the war against Iraq, following a final demand from US president George W. Bush on March 18 (Iraqi time) that Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq no later than March 20, 4 o'clock. Attacks are first performed by bombing of southern Iraq and Baghdad. Autonomy is restored for Iraq as an interim government under the leadership of Iyad Allawi takes power, but the region is hardly stable. Still, there are large numbers of troops in Iraq. On April 6th and 7th Kurdish Jalal Talabani was elected President of Iraq. And the Shi'i Ibrahim Jaafari is appointed Prime Minister. The Kings of Babylon are once again Babylonian†™ ¢‚¬„¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¢†™‚¢‚¢¢¢‚¬Å¡‚¬¦‚¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¬†™¢¢¬…¡¢‚¬Å¡‚¦ even if they are Muslim.

#2

Hmm...

That about sums it up, yes......That is a very informative piece, thanks so much...But...Why'd you write it..?

#3

Wow Raum. A lot of information there. But like A...why?

#4

i like to write

AND

i feel an accurate historical depiction of history pointing to this war lends to more factors than "america, the anti-terror hero world police" abstract statements that permeate modern media attempts to capture the essence of the middle eastern struggle. I want to bring attention of these factors to those whish to understand and discuss it.

#5

Agreed, a much better angle than "freedom and our way of life", now THAT is abstract. You kids have a very bad habit of "befriending" some pretty colorful characters, I have to say.

Well, I for one am really diggin this read, which, unfortunately, I can't get to all at once...but it certainly deserves a few visits. So thank you for the info.

#6

actually, Sadam was a pretty great leader before he became a muslim extremist in 1970, and then 5 years later after the israeli bombing of a nucler generator outside of Baghdad...it got REALLY bad. His greatest crimes were still in the interest of the people he deemed worthy of existence rivaling the most advanced countries in the world. Such a pity it wasn't ALL of IRAQ's citizens.

Our being on the out with him was a consequence of actions we never endorsed between parties that were united by one cause: To defeat Hitler. We defeated hitler, but NOW WHAT? The US more than anything has a habit of getting in the thick because we tried to be friends with everyone, and no one else wants to be friends. We threw all our chips in the friendships we cultivated and those uneasy alliances are all we have to show for it, and everyone resents our friendship with someone else... especially the "friends" we screwed over to make other friends happy...

vertical,
raum