Official name: Republic of Iraq

IRAQ, Republic of Iraq (Al-Jumhuriya al-Iraqiya). - go-su-dar-st-in South-West Asia.

In the south-east of the omy-va-et-sya by the Persian Gulf of the Indian Ocean (length-on the be-re-go-howl line 58 km). Gra-ni-chit on the se-ve-re with Turkey-qi-ey, on the east with Iran, on the south-east with Ku-wei-th, in the south and south-west -pa-de with the Saudi Arabian Ara-vi-ey, on the pa-de with Jor-da-ni-she, on the se-ve-ro-for-pa-de with Si-ri-she. The area is 434.1 thousand km2 (according to other sources, 437.1 thousand km2). Population 34.8 million (2008). Sto-li-tsa - Baghdad. The official languages ​​are Arabic and Kurdish. De-nezh-naya edi-ni-tsa - Iraqi di-nar. Administrative-territorial division: 18 mu-ha-phases (table).

Iraq - member of the UN (1945), IMF (1945), IBRD (1945), Arab League (1945), OPEC (1960), Organization of the Islamic Conference (1975) .

Political system

Iraq is a fe-de-ra-tive state. Con-sti-tu-tion approved on re-fe-ren-du-me on October 15, 2005. The form of rights-le-niya is par-la-ment-skaya res-pub-li-ka.

Head of state - pre-zi-dent, from-bi-rai-my lower pa-la-toy par-la-men-ta big-shin-st-vom in 2/3 go-lo-owls -com for 4 years (with the right of one-but-re-re-from-branding). Pre-zi-den-tom, a native of Iraq, having a ro-di-te-lei-Iraq-tsev, who has reached the age of 40, can be elected.

The highest for-co-no-dative body is a two-pa-lat-ny par-la-ment, consisting of So-ve-ta pre-hundred-vi-te-lei and So- ve-ta soy-for. Council of pre-hundred-vi-te-lei (1 de-pu-tat from each 100 thousand inhabitants) from-bi-ra-et-sya for 4 years, all-about-them sche-go, direct-mo-go and tai-no-go-lo-co-va-niya and represents everything on-the-le-country. Council of soy-for-women should consist of pre-hundred-vi-te-lei re-gi-o-nov and provinces that are not included in the composition of the re- gi-o-new. The composition of the So-ve-ta, the condition of the member-st-va in it, the scope of its competence and other issues will be in the further op -re-de-le-ny for-ko-nom.

The executive power is os-sche-st-in-la-et-sya So-ve-to-mi-ni-st-ditch headed by the prime minister. So-becoming pra-vi-tel-st-va ut-ver-zhda-et-sya -ke; the government program must be approved by the ab-so-lute-pain-shin-st-vom member So-ve-ta pre-hundred-vi-te-lei .

Fe-de-ra-tiv-naya system-te-ma of Iraq pre-la-ga-et includes in it the capitals of the country, re-gio-nov, pro-vin- tions that are not included in the regions, and local administrative units.

Con-sti-tu-tion pro-voz-gla-sha-et is-lam of the official re-li-gi-her of the state and the main source-toch-no-one for-ko-no-da-tel-st-va (not a single law can be accepted if it pro-ti-vo-re-chit the basic norms of mam is-la-ma). At the same time, gar-ran-ti-ru-et-sya islamic identity of the pain-shin-st-va of the Iraqi people with one-time recognition of the religious rights of each person, the freedom of his ve-ro-is-on-ve-da-niya and from the rights of religious religious ob-rya-dov.

In Iraq, su-sche-st-vu-et is a lot of-par-ty-ny system-te-ma. Leading Shi-it parties: Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, "Islamic Call" ("Daa-va "). Leading Kurdish parties: De-mo-cratic party of Kur-di-sta-na, Patriotic union of Kur-di-sta-na. Sunnit Party - Iraqi Islamic Party. Other parties: As-Syrian de-mo-cratic movement, Iraq Tur-Ko-Man Front, Iraqi National Accord Movement, Ob-e-di- non-for-not-for-vi-si-my Iraqi de-mo-kra-tov, Iraqi National Congress, Iraqi Communist Party.

Nature

Relief. Most of the ter-ri-to-rii of Iraq is beyond the equals of the Upper and Lower Me-so-po-ta-mii. Upper Me-so-po-ta-miya, or Ba-di-yat-el-Ja-zi-ra, ras-lo-female in the middle course of the Tigris and Ev rivers -frat, represents-becomes-la-et with a hundred-lo-vuyu de-well-yes-qi-on-but-ak-ku-mu-la-tiv-ny equal-no-well height 200-500 m; meet-cha-yut-sya so-lon-cha-ko-vye de-pressures (seb-khi), the largest of some of them - vpa-di-on so-le-no- th lake Tar-tar. Along the peri-fe-rii, shi-ro-ko ras-pro-countries-not-us on-clone-pro-lu-vi-al-equals with ka-me-ni-sty- mi and hip-with-you-mi in-lu-pus-you-nya-mi. Lower Me-so-po-ta-miya (Shatt-al-Arab, lower than those of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers) - broad al-lu-vi-al-naya bottom -men-ness, no more than 100 m above sea level. Mo-no-ton-ny rel-ef bottom-men-no-sti on-ru-sha-et-sya about-to-ka-mi, be-re-go-you-mi wa-la-mi, ir -ri-gationic ka-na-la-mi, over-the-lake-ren-us-mi on-the-same-niya-mi. South part The lower Me-so-po-ta-mii is strong-but for-bo-lo-che-on.

In the se-ve-re and se-ve-ro-east-to-ke of Iraq, pro-tya-gi-va-yut-sya low and middle-not-high-hundred-th warehouses-cha-ty mountains- nye ridges of Ar-myan-sko-go and Iran-sko-go-go-riy with a height of up to 3587 m (mountain Kha-ji-Ib-ra-khim - the highest point of Iraq). Western and southwestern parts of Iraq (Syrian Pus-ty-nya, Pus-ty-nya El-Khid-ja-ra) races-on-the-same-ny in pre-de-lah Si -riy-sko-Ara-viy-sko-go-layer-to-go-layer up to 900 m high.

Geo-lo-gi-che-structure and useful is-ko-pae-mye. In the tech-to-nical from-but-she-nii, the southern and western parts of Iraq are raced in the same way in the pre-de-lahs of the northeastern outskirts of the Arabian Plateau forms-we, where races-pro-countries-not-we are not-dis-lo-qi-ro-van-nye siege-daughter-nye from-lo-zhe-nia (before-lo-mi-you, from- vest-nya-ki with go-ri-zon-ta-mi fos-fo-ri-tov, clay, etc.) fa-not-ro-zoi-sko-go cover-la power-no-stu 6 -7.5 km. In the north of Iraq from the east-ka-for-ho-dit warehouse-cha-to-blood-system-te-ma Za-gro-sa Al-piy-sko-Gi-ma-lay-sko th in the motion-but-th belt-sa. The ridge-you of the Ar-myan-sko-go and Iran-ko-go-on-mountain are slo-we-smashed-you-mi into warehouses and over-vi-well-you-mi in the right- le-ni south-for-pa-da (in a hundred-ro-well platform-for-we) me-so-kai-no-zoi-ski-mi kar-bo-nat-no-ter-ri-gen- us-mi from-lo-zhe-niya-mi, accommodating-schi-mi thick-schi with-la-nyh species. On the extreme se-ve-ro-vos-to-ke, it’s ras-lo-same-on-over-vi-go-va zone, along some swarm you-stu-pa-ut re- the face of the oceanic crust (ofio-li-you). Warehouse-cha-taya system-te-ma and pre-cam-Bryan platform-for-ma once-de-le-na Me-so-po-tam-sky-pe-re-do-vym pro-gi- bom, for-full-n-ny neo-gene-four-vert-tich-ny-mi about-lo-moch-ny-mi from-lo-zhe-ni-mi (mo-las-soy), is- py-you-vayu-schi-mi in-lo-gie warehouse-cha-tye de-for-ma-tion. For the northern and northeastern regions of Iraq, ha-rak-ter-na is characterized by elevated seismicity. The most seis-mi-che-ski active learning-st-ki and areas of possible strong lands -zhe-us along the border of Iran-th-on-the-mountain with the Me-so-on-the-tam-low-men-no-stu.

The most important uses of Iraq are oil and natural combustible gas. Most of for-pas-of-oil-ty co-medium-to-that-che-on in the largest oil-ty-nyh and nef-te-ga-zo-vy places-hundred-ro-zh-de- ni-yah Kir-kuk, El-Ru-may-la, Ez-Zu-bair, Er-Ra-ta-vi, Mand-zhun, from-no-xia-shchih to Per-sid-sko-go for-whether-va nef-te-ga-zo-nose-no-mu bass-sei-well. It has several own-st-ven-but gas places-one-hundred-ro-zh-de-ny (Chia-Surkh and Ha-well-ka). Pro-mice-len-but we mean-we-sto-rozh-de-niya se-ry (Mish-rak, El-Fat-ha and La-za-ga on se-ve-re), fos- for-ri-tov (Ak-shat and Er-Rut-ba on the za-pa-de, at-above-le-zha-shchy East-precisely-Mid-di-earth-but-sea fos-fo-ri-to-nose-no-mu bass-sei-nu), cement-of-west-nya-kov, ka-men-noy so-li. Also from the West of the place-of-ro-zh-de-niya of iron and lead-in-zin-k-o-ores, gypsum, brick clays. You-yav-le-ny ru-do-pro-yav-le-niya me-di, ni-ke-la, hro-mi-tov, as-be-hundred, tal-ka, etc.

Climate. In the northern part of Iraq, the climate is sub-tropical kon-ti-nen-tal-ny, with dry hot summers and from-no-si-tel-no rain-li-howl and pro-cold winter-mine. Average temperatures in July-la 34 ° C, January-War 7 ° C (Mo-sul). Winter in the mountains lies snow. In the southern part of the country, the climate is tropical con-ti-nen-tal-ny. The average temperatures of Jan-va-rya are 12 ° C, Aug-gu-hundred 34 ° C, max-si-mu-we do-ti-ga-yut 48 ° C (Bas-ra). Quantity of precipitation in mountainous regions 500-1500 mm per year (hour-tych-but you-pa-da-yut in the form of snow), Eastern-ke countries 50-150 mm per year. Most of the precipitation is pa-da-et from de-cab-rya to March. In the south of Iraq, there are not-red-ki dusty storms.

Inland waters. Re-sur-sy in the top-but-st-no-go one hundred (75 km3) og-ra-ni-chen-ny. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers, re-se-kayu-ing the ter-ri-to-riyu of Iraq from the se-ve-ro-za -pa-yes to the southeast. Near the city of El-Kur-na, the Tigris and Euphrates merge and ob-ra-zu-yut the Shatt-al-Arab river, which flows into the Persian Gulf. In the pre-de-lahs of Iraq, the Tiger pri-ni-ma-et is quite large left pri-to-ki (Big Zab, Small Zab, Diya-la), at Ev- there are no significant inflows in Iraq. In the pre-de-lahs of the Lower Me-so-po-ta-mia, the Tiger and Eu-frat are raz-branches-la-yut-sya on ru-ka-va, they form a lot of numerical flood-men lakes and floating lakes. Mak-si-mum of a river-no-one-one hundred come-ho-dit-sya in the spring-well, when it happens to be on-water-non-niya, at the end of summer and autumn-new re-ki ma-lo-water-us. For rivers, ha-rak-te-ren is a significant solid runoff, in the lower-call-yah from-me-cha-et-sya you-so-so-holding so-lei in the de because of the discharge of drainage water from the fields. For deserted areas, ti-pich-us are temporary vo-do-to-ki - wa-di.

For economic purposes, use about 80% every year, but in-goiter-new-lya-my water resources (of which 92% goes to well- railways of agriculture, 3% - on someone-mu-nal-but-to-be-needs, 5% are required by industrial enterprises). Hydro-energy resources (700 thousand MW) are co-medium-to-the-che-us mainly in the basin of the Tigris River. For re-gu-li-ro-va-niya one hundred and fight with on-water-non-niya-mi in the country, create-yes-but a lot of on-living water-do- hra-ni-lisch (up to the rivers Tigris and Euphrates). In the valleys of the rivers Euphrates, Big Zab and Small Zab, complex hydro-nodes are built. Tight-female si-tua-tion with vo-obes-pe-che-ni-em ha-rak-ter-na for the bass-this-on the Euphrates river, since a significant part one hundred re-ki races-ho-du-et-xia for irrigation. Re-gu-lyar-noe su-to-move-st-in is possible, but mainly along the Shatt al-Arab river.

Soil-you, ra-ti-tel-ny and living world. In the valleys of the main rivers of Iraq (the Tigris with pri-to-ka-mi, Ev-frat, Shatt-al-Arab), once-wi-you al-lu-vi-al-nye soils are flat before-native, but places-ta-mi for-bo-lo-chen-nye or for-with-lyon-nye. In the Upper Me-so-po-ta-mii races-pro-countries-not-us se-ro-ze-we and se-ro-ko-rich-non-soils. Large squares on the equals of the Lower Me-so-po-ta-mia for-ni-ma-yut second-rich-but for-saline-soils, that -ky-ry and sand-ki, rise-nick-but-ve-nee-something connected-for-but with many-ve-ko-howling non-ra-tsio-nal-practice -koy oro-shae-mo-go earth-le-de-lia. For the northern and northeastern parts of the country, ha-rak-ter-ny are mountainous brown-rich-not-high and mountain-but-lu-go-vye soils. On the os-tal-noy ter-ri-to-rii, pre-ob-la-da-yut are deserted stones, including gypsum-nosed, soils, as well as dogs-ki and so-lon-cha-ki.

In most of the ter-ri-to-rii of Iraq, there are races of pro-countries of desert-tyn-nye steppes (evil-ki, by-ly-ni, numerous ephemerals) and in-lu-pus-you-ni, re-ho-dying in the south and south-behind-pa-de into tropical deserts-you-ni. Le-sa for-no-ma-yut no more than 2% of the area of ​​Iraq -kov, on the southern slopes they govern for-ma-tions of the middle-di-earth-but-sea-type-pa: ma-k-vis, times-re-female du-bo-vye and fis-tash-ko-vye les-sa, you-she on the slopes of us changing-sya can-same-ve-lo-you-mi-red-to-forest-I- mi. In the upper parts of the mountain slopes, there are new al-piy meadows. On the equals, along the rivers before us, they pro-from-ra-sta-yut le-sa from the EU-frat-th-to-po-la, willows, ta-ma-ri-skov. For the southern districts, ti-pich-na-sa-zh-de-niya fi-no-ko-howl palms. In the valleys of Ti-gra and Ev-phra-ta pre-ob-la-da-yut oro-shae-my lands.

The living world is strong-but lunch-nyon, mainly in connection with the loss of the place-sto-ob-ta-ny. Over 80 species of mammals are melting, of which 11 are under the threat of extinction. Fully-stu is-treb-le-ny Syrian ku-lan, Ara-viy-skaya ga-zel dor-kas, ve-ro-yat-no, from the ter-ri-to-rii of Iraq did it also come from the Arabian oryx and the Iranian fallow deer. Of the large mammals, the wolf was preserved, like a hyena, sha-kal. There are about 400 species of birds in the so-ve or-no-fauna, including over 170 species - nesting-dya-scha. The wetlands of Me-so-po-ta-miya are the only-st-vein-ny places in the world to nest-to-va-niya of the Iraqi ka-we- shov-ki and Iraqi droz-do-howl ti-me-lii (en-de-mi-ki of Iraq), as well as zi-mov-ki of many rare water-to-floating birds (pink flamingo, curly pe-li-kan, etc.) - for the most part de-gra-di-ro-va-li after-st-vie osu-shi- tel-nyh measures in the middle of the 20th century, as well as in the result of military actions. In Ioak, they created-yes-but only 8 oh-ra-nyae-my ter-ri-to-ry with a total area of ​​​​541 hectares (2005); they all have not-you-with-the status of oh-ra-na. Learn the value of the landscapes of Me-so-po-ta-mii for the support of you-so-so-time-but-about-ra-zia or-ni- to-faun-ny, Me-zh-du-folk union of oh-ra-ny birds (Birdlife International) on the territory of Iraq you-de-lil 42 key-che-or-ni- to-logical ter-ri-to-rii of international significance (total area 3.5 million hectares).

Additional literature:

Countries and nations. Trans-ru-beige Asia. Southwestern Asia. M., 1979;

Fisher W. Iraq: Physical and social geography // Middle East and North Africa. L., 1994;

Alek-see-va N. N. Contemporary landscapes of foreign Asia. M., 2000.

Population

Pain-shin-st-in-se-le-niya of Iraq (71.3%) - ara-by-Iraq-tsy. In the north-east of Iraq, there are Kurds (about 14%), in the north - Yezidis (about 2%), as-si-riy-tsy (1.2 %). Azeris-bai-jan-tsy make up 5.3% of the population of the country, ara-by-egypt-tya-ne - 2%, pa-le-stin-tsy - 0.5%, trans -sy - 1.1%, people from Turkestan (Turkmen) - 1.1%, lu-ry - 0.3%, ar-mya-ne - 0.2%, people from the Caucasus ka-za (“cher-ke-sy”) - 0.1%, tsy-ga-ne - 0.1%, etc.

The natural increase in population (2.6% in 2007) is due to you-so-ro-g-give-bridge (31.4 per 1000 inhabitants), almost 6 times the highest mortality rate (5.3 per 1000 inhabitants); po-ka-za-tel fer-til-no-sti 4.1 re-byon-ka for 1 woman-schi-nu; infant mortality is 47 per 1000 live-in-ro-well-days. The average age of the population is 20 years (2007). In the age-ra-t-noy structure-tu-re on-se-le-niya you-so-ka-to-la de-tey (under 15 years old) - 39.4%, persons labor-to-spo-sob -no-age age (15-64 years old) - 57.6%, over 65 years old - 3%. The average life expectancy in May is 69.3 years (men - 68, women - 70.6). For every 100 women, there are 102 husbands. The average population density is 80.2 people/km2 (2008). The most raft-but for-se-le-na to-li-na of the rivers Tigris, Euphrates, Shatt al-Arab. Share of urban population 67% (2005). Large cities (thousand people, 2008): Baghdad 6432 (with pri-g-rod-am-i 10634), Mo-sul 2595, Bas-ra 1862 (with pri-go-ro -da-mi 3803), Er-bil 1628, Su-lei-ma-nia 1201, Kir-kuk 676, En-Nad-jaf 615.

Internal des-ta-bi-li-za-tion after prolonged military actions led to significant external and internal -ren-nim mi-gra-qi-yam na-se-le-niya. According to UN data (end of 2006), more than 1.8 million people have left Iraq, mainly to Syria and Jordan; within the country, the place is one hundred-yan-no-go pro-zhy-va-niya in-ki-well-whether more than 1.6 million people.

Eco-no-mi-che-ski active population of 7.4 million people. About 20% of those employed in agriculture (2004; est.). Level without-ra-bo-ti-tsy 18-30% (2006).

Religion

According to the data (2007) of the Interim Military Ad-mi-ni-st-ra-tion of the coalition forces in Iraq, about 97% of the population of Iraq is mu-sul-ma-ne, of which 60-65% - shii-you, 32-37% - sun-ni-you; about 3% are Christians and pre-hundred-vi-te-whether other confessional groups (Jewish, Yezi-dy, Man-Dei, Bahai-you).

Iraq is one of two Arab countries (on-a-row with Bah-ray-n), where after-to-wa-te-whether shi-it-sko-go-right-le-is -la-ma number-len-but pre-ob-la-da-yut over after-before-va-te-la-mi sun-nit-so-go-right-le-niya.

Shi-iz-ma compose 96-99% on-se-le-niya in mu-ha-fa-zah Ka-di-siya, Ker-be-la, Ba-bil, Di-Kar, Wa-sit and May-san, as well as the overpressing pain-shin-st-in - in mu-ha-fa-zah Nad-jaf, Mu-tan -na and Bas-ra. Significantly-chi-tel-na do-la Shia-tov in the mu-ha-fa-zahs of Diya-la (45%), Baghdad and Sa-lah-ed-Din (25-30%). In the northern mu-ha-fa-zahs of Iraq, do-la shi-it-sko-go na-se-le-nia is not-significant-chi-tel-na: in Ta-mi-me - 8%, Nai-na -ve and Da-hoo-ke - 5% each. In Er-bi-le, Su-lei-ma-nii and An-ba-re shii-tov there is no prak-ti-che-ski. Suppressing pain-shin-st-in the rural inhabitants of the country - shii-you. Shiit religious centers: En-Nad-jaf, Ker-be-la, Sa-mar-ra, Baghdad district of El-Ka-zi-miya. Shi-it-is-lam in Iraq was represented by several-ki-mi-right-le-niya-mi: ima-mi-you, shei-hi-you, ali-ila-hi ( ahl-i haqq), is-mai-li-you. Ima-mi-ty (ja-fa-ri-ty) make up 95% of Iraqi Shiites. Ima-mi-you represent-le-we two schools-la-mi. The most-bo-lea-of-the-number-len-at the school-la Usu-liy-un, with-the-religion-women-square-stand-ly-yut over 80% of the ima-mi-tov . Second-paradise school-la - Ah-ba-riy-un - volume-e-di-nya-et less than 20% ima-mi-tov. Shei-hi-you make up about 3% of Shii-tov (living in the southern regions of Ira-ka along the border with Iran), ali-ila- hi - 1-1.5% Shii-tov (pro-zhi-va-yut mainly in the northern mu-ha-fa-zahs of Iraq, to ​​the north and east of Mo-su- la and to the za-pa-du from Er-bi-la). Ali-ila-khi - kur-dy (in El-Ama-diya, Er-bi-le, Ra-van-du-ze and Ha-na-ki-na region) and Iraqi Azeri-bai-jan- tsy. The whole-ma don’t-mean-chi-tel-on to-la is-mai-li-tov of Iraq, mostly they are Azerbaijanis, pa-ki-stans, not a big group pa kur-dov (district-on Man-da-li).

Sun-ni-you make up over 90% of the population in mu-ha-fa-zah An-bar, Su-lei-ma-niya, Er-bil and Ta-mim, about 80% in Sa -lah-ed-Di-ne, more than 68% - in Nai-na-ve, over-lo-wi-na - in Bagda-de and Diya-le. In mu-ha-fa-zah Bas-ra (over 21%), Nad-jaf, Mu-tan-na (5-10%) sun-ni-you are-la-yut-sya less-shin-st- Vom, in Ker-be-le they are practically-ti-che-ski from-sut-st-vu-ut. Over 65% of Iraqi sun-ni-tovs are pri-ver-women-tsy ha-ni-fit-sko-go maz-ha-ba, about 34% are sha-fii-ty, a little more than 1% are ma -liki-you and khan-ba-li-you. In Iraq, dey-st-vu-yut are several su-fi-or-de-nov. Among the Kurds in the northern provinces, Na-ksh-ban-diya has a significant influence. The second swarm in terms of the number of or-den - Ka-di-riyya - has pri-ver-women among the arabs and from-part of the Kurds of Bagda- and Sa-lah-ed-Dee-na. Or-den Ri-faya has a non-big number of side-ron-ni-kov among sun-ni-tov Bas-ra.

Christ-sti-an-st-vo in Iraq is represented by 11 different churches. The largest of them is the Khal-dey-ka-to-personal church (representing-le-on Pat-ri-ar-shey epar-hi-he bishop-scop-st-vom Ba -gdad, ar-hi-epi-scop-st-va-mi Bas-ra, Mo-sul, Kir-kuk, Er-bil, bishop-scop-st-vom Za-ho). In addition to that, on the territory of Iraq, dei-st-vu-yut: As-si-riy church Vos-to-ka, Si-ro-ka-to-personal church -kov, Syrian pra-in-glorious (like-Vit-sky) church, Ar-myan-sky apo-stol-sky church, parishes of Rome-sko-ka -to-personal church, Coptic right-in-glorious church, An-ti-ohian right-in-glorious church; work is being done on the opening in Iraq of the parish of the Russian right-of-the-glorious church of the Moscow pat-ri-ar-ha-ta. The largest volume of pro-tes-tant-skih de-no-mi-na-tsy - As-samb-lea of ​​evangelical pre-stu-te- ri-an-skih churches in Iraq, which includes 5 churches: National Evangelical pro-tes-tant church (Kir-kuk), As-si -riy-sky evangelical pre-sve-te-ri-an-sky church (Baghdad), Arab evangelical pre-swe-te-ri-an-sky church ( Baghdad), the National Pro-Tess-Tant Evangelical Church (Mo-sul) and the National Pre-Sweet-Te-ri-an-Sky Church (Bas-ra).

On the territory of Iraq there are religious saints-you-ni iu-de-ev, some-rye-chi-ta-yut-sya and Iraqi mu-sul-ma- na-mi: mo-gi-la Ez-d-ry (Ozei-ry) and Ie-ze-kii-la (Dhul Ki-fil), as well as Kur-na (Nabk Kor-na) - holy the birth place of the confluence of the Ti-gra and Ev-phra-ta, where he made the sacrifice of Av-ra-am.

Is-to-ri-che-sky essay

Iraq in antiquity. The most ancient traces of a human-lo-ve-che-deed-tel-no-sti on the ter-ri-to-rii of Iraq yes-ti-ru-ut-sya about 500-400 thousand years ago ass (ru-bi-la and ga-lech-ny tools-diya me-sto-on-hoj-de-nia Bar-da-Bal-ka). Ma-te-ria-ly of the epoch of Mustye from-ve-st-ny in the caves of Kha-zar-Mard, Sha-ni-dar, etc. By the late pa-leo- li-tu and pe-re-ho-du to me-zo-li-tu from-no-syat kul-tu-ry Ba-ra-dost and Zar-zi (they represent-le-na and in Sha - no-yes-re). These tra-di-tions in-lu-chi-li continue in the pa-myat-ni-kah “for-gross-me-zo-li-ta” (Ka-rim-Sha -khir, Ze-vi-Che-mi-Sha-ni-dar, etc.), associated with na-chat-ka-mi pro-from-in-dya-shche-ho-zyay-st -va, mill-new-le-nie-something-ro-go about-follow-the-same-but according to ma-te-ria-lams in-se-le-ny Jar-mo, Mag-za-liya, etc. Increasing-li-chi-vayu-shche-sya on-se-le-nie near the end of VII - beginning of VI millennia BC os-in-i-lo se-ver al-lu-vi-al-noy do- li-ny Me-so-po-ta-mii (Sot-to). But-si-te-li kul-tour with the development of zem-le-deal tra-di-qi-ey (Khas-su-na, Kha-laf, Ubeid) ob-zhi-li the whole Me-so - by the way, did they begin to adopt artificial irrigation, os-voi-whether about-working non-ferrous metals, to the end of this epoch-hi na-cha-li from-go-tav-li-vat ke-ra-mi-ku on the gon-char-nom circle; about complex so-qi-al-no-imu-sche-st-ven-nyh from-no-she-ni-yah svi-de-tel-st-vu-yut mo-well-men-tal-nye architectural constructions, pe-cha-ti-amu-le-you (see also in the articles Ar-pa-chiya, Gav-ra, Sa-mar-ra, Sav -van, Eri-du, Yarim-Te-pe).

On the basis of the os-no-ve tra-di-tsy Kill-yes by the middle of the 4th millennium in Me-so-po-ta-mii sfor-mi-ro-va-las kul-tu-ra ti-pa Uruk and change -her cul-tu-ra “pro-to-write-men-no-go-pe-rio-da” (see the article Jem-det-Nasr), when complex ir- ri-gation systems, mass-co-re-mes-len production, urban centers with complex mo-well-men-tal-ny-mi complex sa-mi and ka-men-noy skul-p-tu-swarm, writing-men-ness. All this formed the basis of the os-no-woo of the Shu-mer qi-vi-li-za-tion (see the Shu-mer article). The Shu-mer-sky world represented a con-glo-mer-rat of the cities-ro-dov-go-states (Uruk, Ur, La-gash, etc.), bo-rov-shih -Xia me-f-du-fight. Despite the political fragmentation, shu-me-ditch ob-one-nya-lo sa-mo-name, proximity of cults (En- lil, etc.) and cultural similarity. To this-mu, “ran-not-di-na-sti-che-sko-mu”, per-rio-du from-no-si-tsya shi-ro-something-pro-st-ra-ne- nye from de-liy from bronze, appear-le-ing of the royal non-cro-po-lei, where in-gre-be-niya co-leader-da-lis-lo- ve-che-ski-mi sacrifice-in-pri-no-she-niya-mi and bo-ga-tei-shim in-ven-ta-rem (for example, in Ur), the addition of epic stories for-ny (about Gil-ga-me-she, etc.). Eco-no-mic and social development of more northern-than-shu-mer-sky cultural tour on the territory of modern Iraq from-hundred-wa-lo from Me-so-po-ta-mii, but it went in the same right-le-ni.

From the middle III millennium in Me-so-po-ta-mii, the East-se-mit-tribes-me-on ak-kad-tsev raced. Along with the shu-me-ra-mi, they were also created-da-te-la-mi and no-si-te-la-mi me-sopo-tam-sky qi -vi-li-za-tion (see Ak-kad). At the turn of the III-II millennia, the Akkadian language and writing-men-ness are you-tes-no-whether from the use of the Shu-Mer-sky. Until the middle of the 1st millennium, the Akkad language remained the di-plo-ma-tic and literary language of the entire Near East. For ak-kad-sko-go va-ri-an-ta me-so-po-tam-sky qi-vi-li-za-tion was-lo ha-rak-ter-no pre-ob-la-da -tion of royal power over the priestly and ty-go-te-nie to the creation of vast states. At the end of the 24th century, the Akkad king Sar-gon, the Ancient one, sub-chi-nil se-be all me-so-po-tam-sky cities and created a large state institution -zo-va-nie, borders of something-ro-go pro-sta-ra-lis from the Persian Gulf to the Middle-Earth Sea. In the 22nd century, the Ak-Kad-king-st-in ruh-nu-lo under the pressure of the Iranian tribes of the ku-ti-ev, someone, in turn, would have been -be-zh-de-ny pra-vi-te-lem Ura, creating the so-called no-vo-shu-mer-der-zha-va (III dy-na-stii Ur tsar-st- in, XXI century). This is the state-su-dar-st-vo in those-che-ni-almost a hundred-year-tia con-tro-li-ro-wa-lo Me-so-po-ta-miyu, opi-ra-yas for a branch-linen-ny bureau-ro-kra-tic app-para-rat and a large royal economy.

After the pa-de-niya of the king-st-va of Ur under the blow-ra-mi of Ela-ma and amo-re-ev, poly-lytic centers Me-so-po-ta-mii windows-cha- tel-but ne-re-mes-ti-lied to the north in Isin and Lar-su, and later - in Wa-vi-lon, ra-po-lo-women-ny in the Middle Euphranian those. Wa-vi-lon dos-tig race-color-ta in the reign of king Ham-mu-ra-pi (XVIII century), under-chi-niv-she-th Middle and Lower Two-re-whose and famous-viv-she-go-sya with-becoming-le-ni-em de-tal-no-go-yes-for-ko-nov (see Ham-mu-ra-pi laws). In this period, an old-ro-va-vi-lon literary tradition developed, which had an op-re-de-lying influence on the far-nee- the neck of the development of me-so-on-tam-sky literature. The next-blowing pe-ri-od is-to-rii of Va-vi-lo-nii - the era of the vla-dy-che-st-va of the Kas-sit kings (XVI-XII centuries ) - from-weight-ten less. Supposedly, that with kas-si-tah, usi-li-va-et-sya, the role of the tsar-go-owner-st-va and os-la-be-va- there is a part of the economic ini-tsia-ti-va, ha-rak-ter-naya for the old-ro-va-vi-lon-sky era.

To the north from Va-vi-lo-nii, in As-si-rii, ras-lo-female in the middle of the Ti-gra (historical centers - Ash-shur, then Ni-ne-viya), warehouse-dy-val-sya, an ancient hearth of me-so-po-tam-sky qi-vi-li-za-tion. Old-ro-as-si-riy-sky pen-ri-od (XX-XVI centuries) from-me-chen large-scale eco-no-mic ex-pan-si-her as-si-riy- tsev in Eastern Ana-to-liya and os-no-va-ni-em tor-go-vy co-lo-ni. In the wake of the tor-go-in-eco-no-mic activity of the merchants Ash-shu-ra interrupted, and sa-ma As-si-riya for several years kov left the historical scene, having fallen into the ve-si-bridge from strong co-se-days (Mi-tan-ni). Its lytic revival began in the 14th century and continued until the 7th century. As-si-riya was the leading state of the Near East. Its li-ti-ka, especially in the IX-VII centuries, from-whether-cha-las ag-res-siv-no-stu and not-interrupting-us-mi-trying- ka-mi military ex-pan-si in from-no-she-nii Va-vi-lo-nii, Sred-di-zem-no-sea and Urar-tu. Not-one-but-fold-but As-si-riy-skaya der-zha-va os-la-be-va-la and te-rya-la for-voe-van-ny pro-vines, but then again con-so-li-di-ro-va-las and in-goiter-nov-la-la ek-span-siyu; on the p-ke of his-mo-gu-sche-st-va under-chi-ni-la the whole ter-ri-to-riyu of the so-called Bla-go-dat-no-go Po-lu-me-sya- tsa (Elam, si-ro-li-van-sky re-gi-on and Egi-pet). Wa-vi-lon in soyuz with ple-me-na-mi hal-de-ev (kal-du), ras-se-liv-shi-mi-sya in South Me-so-po-ta-mii in the 9th century, several centuries-old os-ta-val-sya the main anti-no-one of the as-si-riy-tsev, some-rye not-one-but-times-but for-hwa -you-va-li and raz-ru-sha-li this city. In the 1st half of the 1st millennium, in Me-so-po-ta-mii, the ple-me-on ara-me-ev raced, moving from the side The Syrian desert and the Middle Euphrates, and the Ara-Mei language in a degree-pen-but you-tes-nil but-in-va-vi-lon-sky and but -vo-as-si-riy-sky dia-lek-you ak-kad-sko-go language.

In the years 616-606, the As-si-riy-king-st-in pa-lo under the blow-ra-mi mi-dyan and wa-vi-lo-nyan. The northern ok-rai-on the As-Syrian lands became part of the Mi-diy-go state; most of the Bla-go-dat-no-go Po-lu-me-sya-tsa eye-laid under the rule of No-vo-va-vi-lon-go-king-st-va. The tops of their race of color Va-vi-lon dos-tig in the reign of Na-wu-ho-do-no-so-ra II (605-562). One-on-one is-the-thing of the forces of go-su-dar-st-va in the course of the external ex-pan-si, as well as the conflict of the king Na-bo-ni -yes (556-539 years) with priest-che-st-vom made-la-li Va-vi-lon easy to-be-whose Persian king Ki-ra II. In 539, the Persians for-hwa-ti-li Va-vi-lo-niyu and included it in the composition of Ahe-me-ni-dov go-su-dar-st-va.

Persian power-dy-che-st-vo-ma-lo-influence-lo on so-qi-al-no-eco-no-micic relations and cultural-tur-no-religious system -tua-tion in re-gio-not. Va-vi-lon became one of the re-zi-den-tions of the Persian kings. The Ara-Mei language, dominating in Me-so-po-ta-miya, was the language of the state documents of the western regions of the state of Ahe-me- no-dov. At the end of the 6th - the beginning of the 5th centuries in Va-vi-lo-nii, not-one-time-but about-is-ho-di-whether there were revolts against the Persian rule.

In 331, in the battle of Gav-ga-me-lah, Alexander Ma-ke-don-sky carried a resolutely similar to the Persian king Darius III, ov -la-del Va-vi-lo-ni-ey and other regions of the state of Ahe-me-ni-dov. Va-vi-lon became a hundred-face of the im-pe-rii Alek-san-d-ra, and after her dis-pa-da, he entered the state of Se-lev-ki-dov, from-whether-chav-she-go-xia significant eth-no-cultural-tour-ne-st-ro-toy. Lord-under-st-vuyu-sche-lo-same in it for-no-ma-whether you-walkers from Greece and Ma-ke-do-nii, dis-se-liv-shie -sya in many-st-ve-ro-dov-ko-lo-ny. One of them - Se-lev-kiya on the right bank of Ti-gra - became the capital of the state and unas-le-do-val the role of Wa-vi-lo-na as tor-go- in the th center-n-ra. All subsequent lytic centers of Me-so-po-ta-mii on-ho-di-lied on the banks of the Ti-gras, as often from me -non-nie Rus-la Ev-fra-ta created-yes-va-lo labor-no-sti of the economic development of the sing-we of this river.

In the 2nd century, Se-lev-ki-dy in a step-pen-but ut-ra-ti-li control over their eastern provinces-tions-mi, in 141 BC Me-so- in-ta-miya would-la for-hwa-che-na par-fya-na-mi. After this, Wa-vi-lon windows-cha-tel-but came to a drop-dock. The Par-Fyan-kings of the di-na-stii Ar-sha-ki-dov made their own military camp Kte-si-fon on the left bank gu Ti-gra, on-against Se-lev-kii, for a long time keeping your el-li-ni-stic traits. In the state of Ar-sha-ki-dov, pre-ob-la-da-la is a syn-cre-tic Greek-eastern cul-tu-ra; in political terms, the Parthian kingdom was amorphous: it included auto-nome Greek cities in its composition and you-sal-nye authorities, including the kingdom of Adia-be-na with a capital in Ar-be-le (on the left-in-be-re-jee of the Middle Ty -gra) or Khat-ra (in Northern Me-so-po-ta-mii). Par-fya-were not the main ones against-no-ka-mi of the Roman Empire. Rim-la-not for-hwa-you-va-li Me-so-po-ta-miyu under Emperor Tray-ne (AD 115) and Sep-ti-mii Se-ve-re (199), but could not hold it for a long time.

In 227, the power of the Ar-sha-ki-dov dy-na-stia would have overthrown-well-ta Sa-sa-ni-da-mi, the rights of some-ry oz-na-me- but-va-moose voz-ro-zh-de-ni-em of the ancient Iranian cultural-tour-no-po-lytic tradition (including the influence of-ni-em zo-roa-st-riz- ma). Ho-tya in ethnic and cultural terms, Me-so-po-ta-miya did not belong-above-le-zha-la to the Iranian world, she was lytic , the economic and de-mo-graphic center of the state of Sa-sa-ni-dov. One hundred faces im-pe-rii os-ta-val-sya Kte-si-fon, and on-lo-gi with Me-so-po-ta-mii would be the main source to-ho-dov of the state. Most of the on-se-le-niya Me-so-po-tamiya so-stav-la-li ara-mei, in the midst of some races-pro-country-nya-moose hri-sti-an -st-in not-hundred-ri-an-sko-go and mo-no-fi-zit-ko-go interpretation. Fore-mountain Za-gro-sa on-se-la-li pre-ki Kur-dov, in Wa-vi-lo-nii su-sche-st-vo-va-li large iu-day- ko-lo-nii, in the steppes to the west of Ev-fra-ta ko-che-wa-li Arab tribes-me-na. In the 5th-6th centuries, ara-would be about-ra-zo-wa-li sub-chi-nyon-noe Sa-sa-ni-dam the state of Lakh-mi-dov with a capital in Hi-re. Upper Me-so-po-ta-miya would-la object-of-a-hundred-yang-no-go-military co-per-no-che-st-va Vi-zan-tii and Sa -sa-ni-dov, is-it-shiv-she-go both hundred-ro-na and facilitated-chiv-she-go for-voi-ing Fore-fore Asia ara-ba-mi .

Iraq in the Middle Ages. The first detachments of ara-bov-mu-sul-man appeared in the steppes near Evphra-ta in 633 and for-vla-de-li Hi-roy. The decisive clash of the sa-sa-nid-army with the ara-ba-mi pro-isosh-lo at Ka-di-si south of Hi-ra (637); in it, Persians are in-ter-pe-whether in-ra-same-nie and from-stu-pi-li from Me-so-po-ta-mii. Ter-ri-to-riya of modern Iraq became part of Ha-li-fa-ta. Is-to-ri-ko-geo-graphic term "Iraq" appeared in medieval Arabic geo-graphic literature to designate the southern part of Me-so -po-ta-mii (from the city of Bas-ra to the city of Tik-rit). The earth-whether to the se-ve-ru from this zone in-lu-chi-li the name "al-Ja-zi-ra".

In those few centuries after the Muslim conquest of Iraq on its territory, pro-is-ho-di-la in-ste- pen-naya ara-bi-za-tion and is-la-mi-za-tion of me-st-ny ara-me-ev. Already in the 7th century, significant masses of ara-vi-tyan were transferred to Iraq. They group-pi-ro-va-lied mainly on the lands around two built-en-for-vo-va-te-la-mi gar-ni-zone-cities - Ku-fa and Bas-ry; in Northern Me-so-po-ta-miya, Mo-sul became the center of Arab power. On-the-se-le-niye of Iraq took an active part in the inter-before-separate war of 656-661 between Ali ibn Abi Ta-li-bom and Mua-vi-ey ibn Abi Suf-ya-nom, os-no-va-te-lem di-na-stii Omei-ya-dov. In these so-be-ti-yahs, Iraq served as the main base for Ali's parties, and after his gi-be-li (661) became the center of an-ti -omei-yad-sky op-po-zi-tion, you-stu-fell-shey under shi-it-ski-mi lo-zun-ga-mi.

The power of Omei-ya-dov would-la overthrow-nu-ta in the re-zul-ta-te of the resurrection of 747-750, head-of-len-no-go Ab-ba-si-da-mi . With the new di-na-stii, the political and eco-no-mic center Ha-li-fa-ta moved to Iraq. In 762, Kha-lif al-Man-sur os-no-val in Middle Me-so-po-ta-miya on the banks of the Tigris River a new hundred-li-tsu - Baghdad. She would-st-ro become one of the most significant cities of Vos-to-ka (on-se-le-ne-Ba-gda-da in the 10th century in the count -you-va-lo about 1.5 million people), me-sto-pre-be-va-ni-em yard and ad-mi-ni-st-ra-tion, mid-to-to-chi -I eat ara-bo-mu-sulman science and culture. Ho-cha in the rights of ha-li-fa Ha-ru-na ar-Ra-shi-da (786-809 years) Iraqi provinces dos-tig-li the highest points of their -his economic and cultural-tur-no-go race-color, pro-ti-vo-bor-st-in between his sons-new-i-mi al-Amin-nom and al -Maa-mu-nom (811-813) co-pro-in-well-yes-elk groats-we-mi-de-ru-she-niya-mi in Baggda-de and eco-construction -no-mi-ki Ira-ka.

In the reign of al-Maa-mu-na (813-833), the center of Ha-li-fa-ta re-lived a new cultural upsurge associated with os-voe-ni-em ara-ba-mi (with-mid-st-ve near-not-in-the-stoch-nyh chri-sti-an) an-tich-no-go on-uch-no-fi -losophic heritage. In 836-889, the re-zi-den-tion of ha-li-fov and the political center of the state were ras-po-la-ga-lis in the city of Sa-mar-ra on the Tig-re (130 km to se-ve-ru from Ba-gda-da). To re-re-no-su hundred-li-tsy ha-li-fov po-bu-di-li frequent clashes of the Turkic guards-dey-tsev-not-vol-nik-kov (gu- la-mov) with ba-gdad-tsa-mi. In the rezul-ta-te of the guards-dei-sky me-te-zhey in the 2nd half of the 9th century in the me-zh-du-re-whose Ti-gra and Ev-fra-ta on-ras-ta- la anarchia; in the course of new inter-before-common conflicts, Baghdad re-lived one more opus-so-shi-tel-nuyu siege (865). So-kra-sche-nie to-ho-dov Ha-li-fa-ta you-nu-di-lo ha-li-fa al-Mu-ta-di-da (892-902) from-give to from-kup on-lo-vi-nu the lands of Iraq; in-stu-p-le-niya from them for-met-but fell in re-zul-ta-te zind-zhey of the resurrection of 869-883, in the course of something-ro- go pov-stan-tsy ov-la-de-li to all of Southern Iraq and raz-ru-shi-li Bas-ru. In 876, in the south-east of Iraq, the Khalif-sky troops from-ra-zi-li on-stu-p-le-nie on Baghdad Yaku-ba ibn Ley-sa as-Saf -fa-ra (see the article Saf-fa-ri-dy), and from 890 Southern Iraq became the scene of the resurrection of kar-matov. Os-lab-le-tion of the central government and away from Ha-li-fa-ta bol-shin-st-va pro-vin-tions led to the fact that in the middle of the 10th century, the un-mediocre power of the kha-li-fs was ras-pro-country only on Baghdad with pri-go-ro-da-mi, on the Middle and Lower Me-so-po-ta-myu.

In 945, Baghdad passed under the control of the di-na-stia of Bui-dov; ab-ba-sid-sky ha-li-fa eyes-were in-the-same-nii of their even captives. The rule of Bui-dov, the adherents of the women of Shii-tiz-ma, was from-me-che-but in Iraq, there was a growth of privileges for Shii-tov and Usi -le-ni-em vra-zh-deb-no-sti me-zh-du ni-mi and sun-ni-ta-mi. Baghdad fak-ti-che-ski split into separate kvar-ta-ly, someone would be one-but-kind-us-mi in et-no-confessio -nal-nome from-no-she-nii, ok-ru-same-we ste-na-mi and had their own city in-fra-struct-tu-ru and or-ga-ny sa-mo-up -equation. In the 10th - early 11th centuries, most of Northern Me-so-po-ta-miya was na-ho-di-las under the rule of the Arab di-na-stiy be-du-in-sko-go pro-is-ho- w-de-niya - Ham-da-ni-dov, Ukai-li-dov, etc. as well as the dis-construction of oro-si-tel-ny systems in Southern Iraq and the growing from-tok to-se-le-nia, Baghdad until the XIII century os-ta-val -is a leading in-tel-lek-tu-al-nym center of the Mu-Sulman world, a place of interaction of various cultures and religions .

In 1055, Iraq was captured by sel-ju-ka-mi and became one of the provinces of their vast state. Ho-tya sul-ta-ny from di-na-stiya Sel-dzhu-ki-dov, in-li-chie from Bui-dov, would it be pri-ver-wives-tsa-mi sun-niz-ma , the status of ab-ba-sid-skikh ha-li-fov did not pre-ter-sing for-met-nyh from me-not-ny. They preserve the av-to-ri-tet of the spiritual heads of the Mu-Islamic world; re-al-naya is the same power in Bagda-de and Iraq as a whole at-over-le-zha-la sel-juk-skim on-me-st-ni-kam. IN early XII centuries, the power of Sel-ju-ki-dov was os-lab-la, and their state was na-cha-lo dis-pa-give-sya. In the ter-ri-to-rii of modern Iraq in the 1110s, the military officer of the West-sel-juk-sky (Iraqi) sul-ta-nat, as part of someone-ro-go -di-whether also Azerbaijan-bai-jan, Syria, Khu-ze-stan (Khu-zi-stan), Is-fa-khan and other regions. Iraqi sul-ta-nat pro-su-sche-st-vo-val until the end of the 12th century in ob-sta-nov-ke ozhes-to-chen-no-go pro-ti-vo-bor-st- va with po-lytic co-per-ni-ka-mi: in Mo-su-le in 1127, ut-ver-di-las di-na-stiya Zen-gi-dov, on the se-ve-ro -east of Iraq, their own state was created by is-mai-li-you, and the ab-ba-sid-kha-li-fi in the middle of the 12th century you-were the central regions of Iraq from under the power of Sel-ju-ki-dov. Av-to-ri-tet Ab-ba-si-dov and pre-stige Baghda-da especially-ben-but grew-whether under ha-li-fah al-Muk-ta-fi (1136-1160 years), al-Mus-tand-ji-de (1160-1170 years) and al-Mus-ta-di (1170-80 years), some su-me-li raz-gro-mit from- rows of Turkic and Arab emirs, ov-la-det El-Khil-loy, Ku-foi and Wa-si-tom and spread their power over Central and Southern Iraq. Their pre-em-nick kha-lif an-Na-sir (1180-1225) pre-ten-do-val for the role of the political li-de-ra of the Mu-Sulman world. One-on-to-torture ha-li-fov ob-edi-thread mu-sul-man in front of the face of over-vi-gayu-sche-scha with the Mongolian ug-ro -zy not uven-cha-lis us-pe-hom. On February 12, 1258, Baghdad was over-hva-chen ar-mi-ey of the Mongolian il-ha-na Hu-la-gu. In those 40 days, the city was subjected to robbing; mon-go-ly pe-re-bi-li about 100 thousand baghdads and kaz-ni-li ha-li-fa al-Mustasim (1242-1258). Pa-de-nie Ba-gda-da and the capture of Iraq mon-go-la-mi shook the Muslim world and would you perceive it as apo-ka-lip -tic events. The ter-ri-to-riya of modern Iraq became part of the chin-gi-sid-sko-go ulu-sa Hu-la-gui-dov.

In re-zul-ta-te of the Mongolian na-she-st-viy, co-pro-in-g-da-she-go-sya demon-sparingly-grab-le-ni-em settled lyh re-gio-news, would there be a thunder-le-na oro-si-tel-nye sys-te-we in southern Iraq and a ra-zo-ryon land-le-deal way in al-Jah -zi-re, that for several centuries pre-before-pre-de-li-lo eco-no-mic, de-mo-graphic and cultural stagnation of the country. Tor-go-in-eco-no-mic center of the Middle Eastern region-na-re-mes-til-sya from Iraq (Ba-gdad) to the north of Iran (Teb-riz and Sul-ta- nie). From-no-she-niya between the language-ni-ka-mi-mon-go-la-mi and the Muslim pain-shin-st-vom of their subjects first-in-on- chal-but would-whether hostility-deb-ny-mi, in si-lu che-go Hu-la-gui-dy in-cro-vi-tel-st-vo-va-li hri-sti-an-skim and the Jewish communities of Iraq, willingly using no-mu-sul-man in the public service. Nevertheless, the Mongolian nobility is in a degree-pen-but under-pa-da-la under the influence of the ara-bo-mu-sulman culture. In 1295, Gazan Khan accepted Islam and pro-voz-la-forces of his state re-li-gi-ey; after this, after-to-va-la vol-on go-not-niy on me-so-po-tam-sky christi-an. Despite the tortures of Ga-zan-kha-na and his pre-em-ni-kov, point out the eco-no-mic life of the Middle East and uk-re -drink state structures, los-kut-noe state Hu-la-gui-dov ras-pa-moose as a result of un-successful wars with Zo-lo-that Or-doy , Cha-ga-tai-da-mi, mam-luk-skim Egypt-tom. In 1335, a significant part of the modern territory of Iraq, fak-ti-che-ski, went under the control of the Mongolian military-no-ko-che-voi group-pi-rov-ki (and for- those di-na-stii) Je-lai-ri-dov, having adopted the ara-bo-mu-sulman culture. Since 1340, Je-lai-ri-dy pe-re-sta-whether you-dvi-gat ma-rio-not-precise il-ha-nov-Khu-la-gui-dov and already for-mal- but govern-la-Iraq and north-western Iran as not-for-vi-si-my go-su-da-ri. At the end of the 14th - beginning of the 15th centuries, Iraq not-once-but-ra-zo-rya-li howl-ska Ti-mu-ra, claiming its inhabitants. In re-zul-ta-te on-ho-dov Ti-mu-ra in the southern and central part of Me-so-po-ta-mii, christ-sti-an-skoe-on-se- le-nie (communities not-hundred-ri-an-as-si-riy-tsev co-stored only in ok-ru-ge Mo-su-la and the mountains of Kur -di-sta-on).

With death, Ti-mu-ra (1405) -house, one-at-a-ko in 1410 after-ter-pe-whether in the fight against the con-fe-de-ra-qi-she ko-che-vyh Turkmen tribes Eastern Ana-to-lii - Ka-ra-Ko-yun-lu (“black-no-ba-ran-nyh”). Almost a hundred years of Ka-ra-Ko-yun-lu and their co-per-ni-ki Ak-Ko-yun-lu (“white-lo-ba-early”) authorities in-va-li in most of the ter-ri-to-rii Me-so-po-ta-mii. It was a pe-ri-od of a deep decline in city life and the owner of Ira-ka.

Iraq in the Ottoman era. At the beginning of the 16th century, a part of the ter-ri-to-rii of Iraq became part of the der-zha-you Se-fe-vid-dov (Bagdad was Is-mai-la I in 1508), which is both-st-ri-lo from-no-she-niya se-fe-vid-sko-go-Iran and Os-man-im-pe-rii. In the battle at Chal-dy-ra-ne (August 23, 1514), the Os-Man army defeated the Iranian troops, after which the Upper Me-so -po-ta-miya passed under the control of Stam-boo-la. In the years 1533-1535 and 1548-1555 Su-lei-man I Ka-nu-ni for-war-shaft also Lower Me-so-po-ta-miya with Baggda-dom and Bas- Roy. According to the conditions of the mi-ra, behind the key-chon-no-go in 1555 in Ama-sye, the Iranian Shah Tah-masp I recognized the Ottoman power in Iraq, one -ko country for even more than 80 years was-ta-va-las in-lem co-per-no-che-st-va of two empires. In 1623, Shah Abbas I conquered a significant part of Iraq with Baghd-dom and the sacred places for the Shiites of the city-ro-da-mi Ker-be-la and Ne -dzhef (En-Na-jaf). Se-fe-vi-dy hold-wa-li Iraq until 1638, until it was again from-voe-van by the Turkish army and windows-cha-tel-but included in the composition Os-man-sky im-pe-rii. Under Se-fe-vi-dah, the Iraqi sun-ni-you under-ver-ha-lis went-no-ni-yam; the same fate befell the local Shiites after the resurrection of the Ottoman authorities. Gra-ni-tsa, us-ta-nov-len-naya between Os-man Iraq and Iran according to the agreement of 1639, almost owls-pa-da- em with the modern border of the two countries.

Having established their dominion in Iraq, the os-mans once-de-li-whether it into a number of provinces (eya-le-tov; hey-a-le-tov) with cent- tra-mi in Mo-su-le and Baggda-de (later - in Bas-re). To the Iraqi re-gio-well, cha-go-te-li is also eya-le-you Shah-ri-zor (to the east of Ti-gra) and El-Ha-sa (on the western be- re-gu Per-sid-th hall.). IN XVI-XVII centuries frequent wars interfere with the economic development of Iraq -tel-noy, to-lo-vi-ny on-se-le-niya ve-lo-ko-che-howl or in-lu-ko-che-howl way of life. By the end of the 17th century, the power of the os-mans in Iraq was os-lab-la, the me-st-nye pa-shi began to use the shi-ro-koi av-tono-mi-ey. At the beginning of the 18th century, Iraqi eya-le-you (with the exception of Mo-su-la and the Kurdish principalities) were ob-e-di-ne-na under the rule Kha-san-pa-shi (1704-1723), ar-nau-ta (al-ban-tsa) according to pro-is-ho-zh-de-ny. Vos-pol-zo-vav-shis ira-no-os-man-ski-mi war-na-mi of the 1720-1740s and the resurrection of the Arab tribes, his pre-em-ni -ki-Ha-sa-ni-dy pre-vra-ti-whether your power in the next-st-ven-nuyu. Until the 1830s, power in Iraq was in the hands of mam-lu-kov (Turkish - kyu-le-me-ny). Na-cha-lo their mo-gu-sche-st-vu lo-lived Ha-san-pa-sha himself, os-no-vav-shiy in Baggda-de school-lu, in someone -swarm trained and re-pi-you-va-li-bo-do-mom-lu-ki. They came from Kav-ka-za (mainly from Georgia; they kept their language and ties with their homeland). Mam-lu-ki in Iraq is not only a military force, including the personal guard of the right-wi-te-la, but also the administrative elite. Ho-cha can-di-da-tu-ry of Iraqi pa-shey were approved in Stam-bu-le, their appointment to the post for-vis-se-lo from is- ho-da fight-would be between the Iraqi mam-luk-ski-mi do-ma-mi, from the palace-ts-in-trigs, in-zi-tion in-f-day large Arab and Kurdish tribes, and not-rarely from foreign influence.

Inner-ren-her and outer-her-lo-the-same-of Iraq under mam-lu-kah was-lo mustache-toy-chi-vym; only out of red it os-lie-nya-moose you-stu-p-le-niya-mi yany-char (1748), clash-but-ve-niya-mi with Iran (on-pa -de-mation of mam-lu-kov on Ker-man-shah in 1723 and Ha-ma-dan in 1724, the second of Iranian Na-dir-sha-ha in 1733 and 1742) and on- le-ta-mi wah-ha-bi-tov from Arabia (capture and destruction of Ker-be-ly in 1802). Mam-luk-sky pra-vi-te-li co-dey-st-vo-va-li once-vi-tiyu re-myo-sel, build-whether honey-re-se, ba-za-ry and ka -ra-van-sa-rai, under-der-zhi-wa-whether in the right state of oro-si-tel-nye systems-te-we. From the middle of the 18th century, British, Dutch and Portuguese merchants settled in southern Iraq; representative of the British East India Company would have been opened in Bas-ra (1763) and Baggda-de (1798). Under Su-ley-man-pa-she We-li-kom (Arabic - Su-ley-man al-Ka-bir, Turkish - Bu-yuk Su-ley-man) in 1780-1802 and Da- oud-pa-she come alive-wee-lis agriculture and trade-la.

In 1831, the Ottoman authorities under-chi-ni-li se-be the Iraqi rights-vi-te-ley. Pa-de-nie Da-ud-pa-shi owl-pa-lo with epi-de-mi-she chu-we, on-water-no-no-em and hunger-lo-house, what with-ve- lo to a part-tich-no-mu deprivation of the country (the number of people in Iraq at the beginning of the 19th century was 1.28 million people, wilted only in the 1870s, wowed to the beginning of the First World War), de-construction of its irrigation systems and eco-but -mic life. In the 1830-1850s, in the eco-no-mi-ke of Iraq, the meaning of ko-che-in-go-ho-zya-st-va, city-ro-da and urban re- the month came to a decline (the number of zhi-te-lei Ba-gda-da so-kra-ti-moose from 150 thousand to 20 thousand people, Bas-ry - from 80 thousand to 5-6 thousands of people). Continued border conflicts with Iran. In 1842-1843, the Os-manian troops from-ra-zi-li seconded to Su-lei-ma-niyu and Ker-be-lu army of Kadzha-rov and great-ve-lis with not-lo-yal-ny Stam-bu-lu shi-it-sky on-se-le-ni-em of Iraq. For-the-key-of the Os-man-im-pe-ri-ey and Iran-nom Er-ze-rum-go-to-go-in-ra of 1847 did not us-ra-ni-lo them mutual pre-ten-zis on Kur-di-stan and along the be-re-jee of the Shatt al-Arab river.

Iraq's exit from the social and economic crisis was associated with the scale of re-for-ma-mi (see the article Tan-zi-mat), about -ve-den-ny-mi os-man-sky ad-mi-ni-st-ra-qi-ey in the 2nd half of the 19th century. Back in 1848, the 6th (Ba-gdad) Corps of the Os-Man Army was created and the military and administrative authorities in Iraq were divided, which -st-in-va-lo og-ra-ni-che-niyu of the power of pa-shi (wa-li) and the center-tra-li-for-tion of administrative management. The Ottoman authorities should pay special attention to the re-mon-tu of irrigation canals and dams, emphasizing go-about-lo-same-nia and in-ze-mel-nyh from-but-she-ny. Wishing to ob-e-di-thread the dis-united pro-provinces of Iraq and uk-re-drink its connections with Stam-bu-lom, os-man-skie gu-ber-na -to-ry in the 1860s from-me-no-whether internal ta-mo-women-s-shel-us and uso-ver-shen-st-vo-whether transport-com- mu-ni-ka-tion (laying lines of tele-le-gra-fa; on-cha-lo pa-ro-move-no-go communication along the Tig-ru; build-tel-st-in highways-this-nyh roads).

The most in-ten-siv-nye pre-ob-ra-zo-va-nia in Os-man Iraq were connected with the activities of the gu-ber- na-to-ra Ba-gda-da A. Mid-hat-pa-shi in 1869-1872. Under him, there was re-re-building Baghdad, creating industrial enterprises, ar-se-nal, on a small scale would-cha oil-ti. Mid-hat-pa-sha co-dey-st-in-val raz-vi-tiyu sis-te-we o-ra-zo-va-niya, you-launch the first newspaper in Iraq "az- Za-cheers" in Turkish and Arabic, encouraged the re-move of ko-chev-ni-kov to settle down. In 1871, under the leadership of Mid-hat-pa-shi, the Os-Man-sky troops of Iraq, under the pretext of helping the pra-vi-te-lu Sau-dov-sko-go emi-ra- that Ab-dal-la-hu ibn Fey-sa-lu in the inter-common struggle-be ok-ku-pi-ro-wa-li of the prince-same-st-va El-Ha-sy. On the de-le ras-shi-re-nie of the Turkish presence in Ara-wii there were-lo ob-words-le-but striving-le-ni-em Stam-bu-la pro-ti-vo -de-st-in-vat-to-torture We-li-ko-bri-ta-nii for-kre-drink-sya on the coast of the Persian Gulf. Before-on-cha-scrap of the military operation of the va-li of Iraq, they beat from the kuwait-sko-go shei-ha Ab-dal-la-ha ibn Sa-ba-ha ( 1866-1892) recognition of the os-man-sko-go su-ze-re-ni-te-ta and declared it to be my own for-mes-ti-te-lem (kai- ma-ka-mom).

At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries, in-tel-lek-tu-al-nuyu and spiritual-at-mo-sphere in the Iraqi society-st-ve op-re-de-la-li mu -Sulman religious institutes-tu-tu-you and pat-ri-ar-khal-ny way of life. The rise of the Arabic na-tsio-na-liz-ma after Mla-do-to-tu-retz-coy re-vo-lu-tion of 1908 weakly for-tro-null on-se-le-Iraq , most of someone-ro-go co-storage-nya-la ar-ha-ich-ny way of life and would-la iso-li-ro-va-na from political and cultural-tour-no-th influence of the European powers. On the other hand, a number of Os-man officers of the Iraqi pro-is-ho-zh-de-niya were in secret organizations "al-Kah-ta-niyya" and "al-Ahd", you-st-fallen-shih for not-for-vi-si-bridge of the Arab provinces of im-pe-rii.

Modern Iraq covers almost the same area as ancient Mesopotamia, whose lands were concentrated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Mesopotamia, also known as the land of the Fertile Crescent, was an important center of civilization and saw the rise and fall of many cultures and states.

In the Middle Ages, Iraq was the name of one of the Arab provinces that made up the southern half of modern country. Today the country is called the Republic of Iraq, where Islam is the state religion, statistics claim that 95 percent of the population are native Iraqis and identify with Arab culture.

The country's second largest group is a cultural group of Kurds who live in the highlands and mountain valleys of northern Iraq and consider themselves a politically autonomous country. Kurds occupy the provinces of Sulaymaniyah, Dahuk and Erbil, common territory commonly referred to as Kurdistan.

The rise of a nation

If we talk about the prehistory of Iraq, then earlier these territories were called Mesopotamia, and it was under the control of several civilizations at once. In about 4000 BC, the territory belonged to the Sumerians, who built modern irrigation systems, developed grain Agriculture, invented an early form of writing, a system of mathematics from which the first wheel and the first plow were invented in modern times.

Literature in the Sumerian civilization also developed, as evidenced by the Epic of Gilgamesh. Unlike their Egyptian contemporaries, who believed that the whole land belonged to the pharaoh, the Sumerians believed that the land should be in private property, exactly the same concept is held in Iraq today.

When the Sumerian civilization collapsed in 1700 BC, King Hammurabi conquered the Sumerian territories and renamed them Babylon. Hammurabi, the famous great leader, introduced the first written legal code in history. Thanks to this code, the Assyrians and Babylonians lived relatively peacefully.

After several power coups, Nebuchadnezzar II ascended the throne, who ruled from 604 to 562 BC. Thanks to him, Babylon earned great fame. Babylon, forty-eight kilometers south of present-day Baghdad, became the most famous city in the world, boasting the Hanging Gardens of Babylon among other virtues.

In 323 BC, Babylonia became part of the Persian Empire until the Muslim Arabs conquered it in 634. At the time of the Arab invasion, the inhabitants of Mesopotamia were mostly Christians, they were enslaved and paid taxes to their invaders. Gradually, the inhabitants of Mesopotamia began to convert to Islam and marry Arabs.

In 762, the capital Baghdad was founded, which became an important trade, cultural and educational center. The capital made it possible to have contact with the countries of Asia and the Mediterranean through trade. Important guests, scientists and major merchants from all over the world often received in the capital. Incredible philosophical and scientific works of famous Arab and Persian thinkers were written in Baghdad.

In 1200, another conquest took place, this time the Mongols invaded the country, who ruled until 1400. After that, power over the territory of present-day Iraq passed to the Turks, this happened in the sixteenth century. The reign of the Turks lasted until the end of the First World War, after which the Ottoman Empire was defeated.

After the defeat of the Ottoman Empire, the League of Nations placed the rule of the territory in the hands of Great Britain, which paid little attention to natural borders and ethnic divisions. introduced its own political system, which was the monarchy, and also created the first written constitution.

On July 14, 1958, the monarchy was overthrown and Iraq was proclaimed a free republic. This was followed by ten years of political unrest and instability. Then, on July 17, 1968, another coup d'état took place that brought the Ba'ath Party to power, which is the current leader in government.

Iraqi national unity

Arab rule during the Middle Ages has a major cultural impact on modern Iraq. The dominant culture in Iraq is the Arab culture and the majority of the Arabs are Muslims. Iraqi Muslims are divided into two groups: Sunnis and Shiites.

Sunnis, who are the majority in Islam, are a minority in Iraq, and Shiites, a minority in the Arab world, are a majority in Iraq. An interesting relationship has developed between Sunnis and Shiites over the centuries.

Although they have different opinions regarding religion, both Sunnis and Shiites hold high leadership positions in government (including Saddam Hussein held the Sunni post), and some Christians do the same.
Arab culture, which came under the influence of the conquerors in the seventh century, has endured many changes of power over the centuries, but it has managed to remain influential.

In the nineteenth century, while the Ottoman Empire was focused on "turkification" of its people, Mesopotamian rebels organized an Arab nationalist movement. They were able to operate during World War II when the British agreed to recognize Arab independence in Mesopotamia if they would help fight against the Turks.

Although Iraq was a state under British rule, after the defeat Ottoman Empire Arab nationalism became even stronger. Over the next few decades, even after gaining independence from Britain, government attitudes wavered between staying under British rule or allowing Arab nationalists to take over. Today, Arab nationalism is firmly recognized in Iraq.

ethnic relations

Throughout the history of Iraq there has been a cultural confrontation between two ethnic groups: Arabs and Kurds. The Kurds have always tried to defend their mentality and culture, to show how different they are from the Arabs. Turkmens who inhabit the northern mountainous areas, also had tense relations with the Kurds due to their historical situation in defending their isolation.

There are other cultural groups in Iraq that have sometimes succumbed to the will of the Arab majority. Among them are the Yezidis of Kurdish origin, who differ from the Kurds due to their uniqueness of their religion. There are Assyrians who are direct descendants of the ancient Mesopotamian peoples who speak Aramaic.

They are predominantly Christian, and although they are a significant minority in Iraq, the government does not officially recognize them as a distinct ethnic group. As for relations with other countries, the Iraqi Shiites have always been at enmity with the Persians.

From 1980 to 1988, Iraq and Iran fought a long bloody war over land disputes. The Iraqi Kurdish population lives surrounded by Kurdish fellow soldiers from other countries: from Iran, Turkey, Syria and Azerbaijan.

is a state located between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The southeastern part of the country borders on the Persian Gulf. Like neighbouring countries, Iraq boasts large reserves of gas and oil. The capital of Iraq - - very often was in the center of various historical events. Today, there are events in the country that do not contribute to the development of the tourism industry. Constant military conflicts and the presence of terrorism greatly affect the image of the country and the capital.

General information

Baghdad is a huge city with more than six million people. Many cultural institutions are concentrated here. The capital is located in the heart of the state. The city was founded on the banks of the Tigris River. In these places there is hot climate with little rainfall. The capital is characterized long summer which starts in May and ends in October. Due to this climate, Baghdad cannot boast of lush vegetation. These are mainly date palms, as well as reeds and reeds in the coastal zone.

Development of the capital

The first settlement was formed on the site of Baghdad in the ninth century BC. The city itself was founded only in 762. Within a few centuries, the city became a center of trade. There was a huge market here. Baghdad gradually became the economic center of the entire Middle East.

The fifteenth century was tragic for the city. It was then that Tamerlane came here with his army. Baghdad was sacked and many buildings destroyed. Later it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, under whose rule it remained until the beginning of the nineteenth century. In the 1920s, the Iraqi Museum was founded here, where they began to collect collections illustrating the history of Assyria and Ancient Babylon.

In the early 70s, mass nationalization took place in the capital. Everything came under the power of the state, except for oil producing and oil refineries. The 80s were a difficult period for both the capital and the country as a whole. The state was embroiled in a conflict in the Persian Gulf. At the beginning of the 21st century, the Iraqi War took place in the state, which led to the overthrow of the regime of Saddam Hussein. Despite the fact that the city is gradually recovering, the situation is still tense.

Iraqi Republic.

The name of the country comes from the Arabic "Iraq" - "coast" or "lowland".

Capital of Iraq. Baghdad.

Iraq Square. 441800 km2.

Population of Iraq. 23332 thousand people

Location of Iraq. Iraq is a state in the South. In the north it borders with, in the east - with, in the south - with and, in the west - with and. In the south, the state is washed by the Persian Gulf.

Administrative divisions of Iraq. 16 governorates (provinces).

Form of government in Iraq. Parliamentary republic.

Head of State of Iraq. The president.

Supreme Legislature of Iraq. Interim National Council, in operation since July 2004.

Supreme executive body of Iraq. Government.

Major cities of Iraq. Mosul.

State language of Iraq. Arab.

Religion of Iraq. 60% are Shia Islam, 37% are Sunni Islam, and 3% are Christians.

Ethnic composition of Iraq. 75% - Arabs, 15% - Turks also live.

Currency of Iraq. Iraqi dinar = 100 fils.

Climate of Iraq. Most of the territory of Iraq is located in the continental zone. In central Iraq, summers are long and hot, while winters are short and cool. In the southernmost region, the climate is humid, tropical and the temperature often exceeds + 50 °C. Precipitation in the mountains falls in the amount of 500 mm per year, and in the southeast - 60-100 mm.

Flora of Iraq. The vegetation of the state is not diverse. Among the rare trees in the south, the date palm stands out. On the slopes of the mountains, along with thorny shrubs, there are single trees. Willow, tamarisk, poplar grow along the banks of the rivers.

Fauna of Iraq. The following animal species predominate: cheetah, gazelle, antelope, lion, hyena, wolf, jackal, hare, bat, jerboa. There are many birds of prey: vulture, owl, raven, hawk, buzzard. Waterfowl nest along the river banks. Lots of lizards.

Rivers and lakes of Iraq. The largest rivers are the Tigris with tributaries Big Zab, Small Zab and Diyala, as well as. There are many lakes in Lower Mesopotamia.

Sights of Iraq. The Iraqi Museum with exhibits dedicated to the civilizations of Mesopotamia, the Iraqi Museum of Natural History, the Abbasid Palace, the Mir-Ja Mosque, the Iraqi Military Museum in Baghdad. In Mosul - the Chandani Church and the Great Mosque, the museum of the city of Mosul. A mosque with a golden dome in Kedimeyn, the tomb of Ali (one of the main shrines of the Shiites) in Nejif, the tomb of Hussein ibn Ali (Muslim martyr) in Karbala. Numerous archaeological excavations are interesting, in which the history of countries comes to life. These are, for example, the excavations of the cities of Dura-Europos, Nuffar, Nineveh - the capital of Assyria in the 8th-7th centuries. BC e. and etc.

Useful information for tourists

In view of the tense situation, the state is practically not visited by foreign tourists.

The territory of modern Iraq is one of the centers of the formation of civilization. This land has been inhabited since ancient times and is steeped in history: according to legends, the Tigris and Euphrates originate in the Garden of Eden, and the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia, Assyria, Parthia, Sumer, Akkad and Persia originated here.

The Republic of Iraq is located in the Mesopotamian lowland, in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It borders Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey and Iran. Washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf.
Iraq has large reserves of oil and natural gas.

State symbols

Flag- a rectangular panel of three equal horizontal stripes: the upper one is red, the middle one is white and the lower one is black with a green inscription “God is great” (“Allahu Akbar”) on a white stripe. The ratio of the flag's width to its length is 2:3. The flag was approved on January 22, 2008.

Coat of arms– includes the Eagle of Saladin associated with 20th century Pan-Arabism, a shield with an Iraqi flag, and below a scroll with the Arabic words الجمهورية العراقية (“Republic of Iraq)”. The coat of arms was approved in 2008.

Modern state structure

Form of government- a parliamentary republic based on the consensus of the three main ethno-religious communities of the Iraqi people: Shia Arabs, Sunni Arabs and Kurds. Under the regime of Saddam Hussein, the Sunnis largely led the country, and after his overthrow they found themselves in opposition.
The country is currently in a state of political instability.
head of state- the president.
Head of the government- Prime Minister.
Capital- Baghdad.
Largest cities- Baghdad, Mosul.
official languages- Arabic, New Aramaic, Sorani.
Territory- 437,072 km².
Population– 31 858 481 people Shiites in Iraq represent 65% of the population, Sunnis - 35%. Shiites live in the south, Kurds - in the north, Christians - dispersed. The Yezidis are an ethno-confessional group mainly living in northern Iraq. During the reign of Saddam Hussein, the country's Christian population, numbering 1.8 million in 2003, was under the protection of the authorities. With the beginning of the American occupation and the reign of anarchy and chaos, the country was swept by a wave of pogroms directed against Christians and Yezidis, which were accompanied by murders and robberies. The attacking side in this case are both Sunnis and Shiites with Kurds. All this led to a significant outflow of Christians from Iraq and to a reduction in the Christian population of the country to 600 thousand people.
State religion- Islam. Religious affiliation remains the most important factor in self-identification.
Climate- subtropical mediterranean.
Currency- Iraqi dinar.
Administrative division– 18 governorates (regions).
Sport- the most popular are weightlifting, freestyle and classical wrestling, football, volleyball and basketball. Wrestling, target shooting, and running are the most popular among the population. There are many stadiums in the country.

Education– universal free secular education at all stages – from kindergarten to the university. Primary schooling is compulsory for all children from the age of 6. It lasts 6 years and ends with exams, on the basis of which students move to secondary school. Secondary education includes two three-year stages. After graduating from high school, you can enter technological institutes or universities. In higher educational institutions Preference is given to liberal education. Their graduates often go to work in government agencies. Humanitarian universities also train specialists in creative professions. The language of instruction is Arabic, with the exception of the northern regions, where in the first grades elementary school teaching is conducted in Kurdish. English has been taught since the fifth grade. There are six universities in Iraq: three in Baghdad and one each in Basra, Mosul and Erbil. 19 technological institutes.

Economy. The basis of the economy is the export of oil. The economy developed dynamically in the 1970s. But in connection with the Iran-Iraq war, the economy began to degrade and quickly fell into decay.
Developed energy. Most of the agricultural land is occupied by pastures, because The soil of Iraq is arid and saline. The main agricultural crops are wheat, barley and rice. Large areas in the river valleys are set aside for date palm plantations.
Animal husbandry: breeding of sheep and goats, to a lesser extent cattle, mainly in mountainous areas.
Armed forces- Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Operations Forces.

culture

Clothing in detail is different in different parts of the country, but in general it is close to the North Arab Bedouin costume. Men wear tapering, usually white trousers and a long, wide shirt (dishdasha) tied with a belt. In cold weather, an open raincoat (aba) is put on top. The headdress is a scarf (yashmag), held by a woolen plait (agal) twisted around the head. Shoes - wooden or leather sandals, more affluent people wear soft shoes. The rice growers and fishermen of Southern Iraq often wear only a loincloth.

Women's clothing: trousers, a long dress (atag) of bright colors for young women and dark for older women, and a silk or woolen cloak (aba). The head is covered with a dark scarf, tied on the forehead with a strip of fabric (chardag). Another handkerchief (foot) descends from the chin to the chest; women who have made a pilgrimage to holy places wear a white foot. Jewelry and amulets are varied: rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, earrings, nose rings and brooches made from a wide variety of materials.
The food is dominated by dates, barley and wheat cakes, rice, spoiled milk, vegetables. Favorite drinks - tea, coffee, fruit sherbets, lemonade - hamud, sour milk diluted with water with salt.

Musician

Iraqi folk music, known as the music of Mesopotamia, refers to music Arab world, but contains elements of Turkish, Persian and Indian musical cultures. Songs in colloquial Arabic are popular among mass audiences. Jalil Bashir and some other composers write music for traditional Arabic instruments: udd (lute) and qanun (zither).

Poetry is the most popular genre of literature. art less popular. The country's painters and sculptors work in forms that most reflect the traditions and culture of Iraq. The art of ornamentation and calligraphy are especially developed. Many modern artists create in the style of abstractionism, surrealism, cubism, symbolism, although their works are not without national features. One of the most famous innovative artists of recent times is Javad Salim, whose work has received international recognition.

Javad Salim (1919-1961)

The largest Iraqi artist, sculptor and graphic artist of the 20th century. One of the founders of modern national art of Iraq. Studied sculpture in Paris, Rome, studied in London. In the late 1940s he finally returned to his homeland.
He is the founder of the Baghdad Association of Contemporary Art. He was one of the initiators of the creation of the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad. His most famous work is the Freedom Monument (1960), erected in Baghdad in honor of the 1958 revolution.

Painting by D. Salim

In all major cities Iraq has libraries. The Public Library in Baghdad has the largest collection. There are also mass rural libraries.
Baghdad publishes 7 daily newspapers in Arabic or English. A number of state and public organizations have their own press.
State radio broadcasting, television and cinema work. The film industry in Iraq is underdeveloped; on average, one full-length film is produced per year. Popular with viewers are Egyptian, Indian, American and Italian films.

Nature

Flora

In the western, southwestern and southern regions, subtropical steppe and semi-desert vegetation is most common: wormwood, saltwort, camel thorn, dzhuzgun, astragalus. In El Jazeera and the northeast, forb vegetation predominates. Above 2500 m there are summer pastures. Mountain-oak forests have been preserved in the mountains in the north and north-east of the country: oaks, comb (tamarix), pine, wild pear, pistachio, juniper, etc. Prickly bushes are common at the foot of the mountain ranges.

wild pear

In the floodplain of the Euphrates, the Tigris and its tributaries, tugai forest vegetation with shrub undergrowth is common, including poplars, willows, and combs. In the southeast, large swampy massifs are occupied by reed-reed thickets and solonchak vegetation. In the river valleys of central and southern Iraq large areas reserved for date palm plantations.

Fauna

The fauna of Iraq is not very rich. In the steppes and semi-deserts there are gazelle, jackal, striped hyena. Rodents and reptiles (lizard and poisonous snake cobra).

Many waterfowl (flamingos, pelicans, ducks, geese, swans, herons, etc.) settle along the river banks. There are a lot of fish in the rivers and lakes: carp, carp, catfish, etc. In the Persian Gulf, horse mackerel, mackerel, barracuda, and shrimps are caught. In Iraq, there are many insects that carry malaria and other diseases, especially mosquitoes and mosquitoes.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Iraq

Hatra

The ruined ancient city in the Parthian kingdom, founded BC. e., its heyday fell on the I-II centuries, and the destruction occurred in 257. Its ruins are located on the territory of Northern Iraq, in the province of Nineveh. The total area of ​​the city was approximately 320 hectares, the plan of the city resembled an oval in shape. It is of historical value, combines Hellenistic and ancient Roman architecture with Arabic decor.

Ashur (city)

The capital of ancient Assyria, the first city built by the Assyrians and named after the Assyrian Supreme God Ashur.
The deterioration of the climate in the Arabian Peninsula in the second half of the III millennium BC. e. caused the migration of Semitic tribes from there to the middle course of the Euphrates and beyond. The northern group of these Semitic migrants were the Assyrians, closely related in origin and language to the tribes that settled in that part of Mesopotamia where the Euphrates approaches the Tigris and were called Akkadians.

Sanbenito

A city on the east bank of the Tigris River, 125 km north of Baghdad. From the north, east and south, instead of walls, the city is protected by ancient irrigation canals. The name Samarra comes from Arabic phrase"joy to the beholder". Some buildings in the city date back to the 5th century. BC.
Samarra is considered the holy city of the Shiites, because. the remains of two imams of Askari rest in the golden-domed mosque of Askaria.

Sights of Iraq

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. They were created at the beginning of the 7th century. BC. for the wife of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II. Presumably they were located in the ancient state of Babylon, near the modern city of Hilla (a city in the central part of Iraq).
Dusty and noisy Babylon, located on a bare sandy plain, did not please the queen, who grew up in the mountainous and green Media. To console her, Nebuchadnezzar ordered the construction hanging gardens. But in historical science, the name of the gardens was mistakenly assigned to the Assyrian queen Semiramis, who lived two centuries earlier. The name of Nebuchadnezzar's wife was Amitis (or Amanis).

Ziggurat at Ur

The best-preserved temple complex of the Ancient Mesopotamia. Erected in the XXI century. BC e. (about 2047 BC) in the city of Ur by the local kings Ur-Nammu and Shulgi, as well as the sanctuary of Ekishnugal, in honor of the moon deity Nanna. Subsequently, it was rebuilt more than once, it was significantly expanded by the Neo-Babylonian king Nabonidus. The foundation of the temple complex is 64x46 m, the height is up to 30 m.

Temple of Imam Hussein

One of the oldest mosques in the world and a Shiite holy site in the city of Karbala. It stands on the site of the tomb of Husayn ibn Ali, the second grandson of Muhammad, near the place where he was killed during the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. The tomb of Husayn ibn Ali is one of the holiest places for Shiites outside of Mecca and Medina, and many make a pilgrimage to this place every year.

National Museum of Iraq (Baghdad)

Al-Shahid Monument (Baghdad)

Also known as the Martyr's Memorial. Dedicated to the Iraqi soldiers who died in the Iran-Iraq war. The monument was opened in 1983. The authors are Iraqi architect Saman Kamal and Iraqi sculptor and artist Ismail Fattah al-Turk.

The monument consists of circular platforms 190 m in diameter in the center of an artificial lake. A huge 40-meter turquoise dome stands on the platform. The two halves of the split dome are displaced, in the middle of them there is an eternal flame.
The rest of the monument area consists of a park, a playground, a parking lot, sidewalks, a bridge, and a lake.
The museum, library, cafeteria, lecture hall and exhibition gallery are located on two levels under the domes.

Baghdad Zoo

Opened in 1971. During the Gulf War, it was badly damaged, but was not closed and continued its work until 2002, when Saddam Hussein closed it for reconstruction. During the invasion of the coalition forces in 2003, the zoo suffered severe damage, the zoo staff left it, leaving the animals behind. During the Battle of Baghdad, out of about 700 animals that lived in the zoo at that time, only 35 survived. The zoo was badly damaged by looters. After the restoration of the zoo with the support of US Army engineers, it was opened on July 20 of the same year. At the time of opening, the zoo had 86 animals, including 19 surviving lions. Now the number of animals is more than a thousand.

History

Iraq in antiquity

In the region of Mesopotamia, in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates, several ancient civilizations (Akkad, Babylonia and Assyria) originated. This was due to the fertility of the local soils. The first states on these lands appeared in the 4th millennium BC. e. The territory of modern Iraq was part of Persia and the Seleucid state.
The Arabs conquered Mesopotamia in 636 and brought Islam with them.
In 762, Baghdad became the center of the Arab Caliphate and remained so until the invasion of the Mongols in 1258 - Baghdad was destroyed and the caliph was killed.

Iraq within the Ottoman Empire

In 1534, the territory of Mesopotamia was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and became part of the Ottoman Empire as a province with the name Ottoman Iraq. The province existed until 1918.
British troops invaded southern Iraq in 1914 and by 1918 had taken control of almost all of Iraq.
In 1921, the Kingdom of Iraq was proclaimed, which lasted until 1932.

Iraqi independence

In 1932, Iraq declared its independence, but the real power largely remained with Great Britain, the oil fields were in the concession of the Turkish petroleum consortium.
In 1948, under the Portsmouth Treaty imposed by the British government, Great Britain received the right to occupy the country in the event of a military threat. In 1955, Iraq signed the Baghdad Pact (military-political grouping in the Middle East, created on the initiative of Great Britain, the United States and Turkey, which existed in 1955-1979)
In 1958 Iraq formed a single Arab Federation with the Kingdom of Jordan. As a result of a conspiracy of officers and a revolution in July of the same year, the king, regent and prime minister of the country were killed, the monarchy was destroyed, and Iraq was proclaimed a republic.

Abdel Kerim Kasem

The head of the new regime was the commander of the brigade of the Iraqi army, Abdel Kerim Kasem. The Arab Federation collapsed. In 1961 Iraq withdrew from the Baghdad Pact, British military bases in the country were closed. But the rule of General Kasem develops into a dictatorship and politically draws closer to the communists.
On September 11, 1961, the Kurdish uprising began under the leadership of Mustafa Barzani. A Free Kurdistan emerged, which lasted until March 1975.

Mustafa Barzani

In 1963, there was a coup, the Arab Socialist Renaissance Party (Baath) came to power. Kasem was executed, began mass repression against the communists. Saddam Hussein, who returned from exile from Cairo, condemned the then Ba'ath leadership for these repressions.
In November 1963, a military junta led by Abdel Salam Aref came to power. Many Ba'ath leaders were executed, Saddam Hussein was arrested and tortured in prison.
In 1968, the Ba'ath Party took power again and allied itself with the Iraqi Communist Party.
On March 11, 1970, a Kurdish-Iraqi treaty was concluded on the formation of an autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan. In March 1974, Baghdad publishes its own version of the law on autonomy without the consent of the Kurds. In response, Barzani raises a new rebellion.
In March 1975, in Algiers, Saddam Hussein and the Shah of Iran conclude an agreement, and after that the Shah stops supporting Barzani. The Kurdish uprising failed, and Free Kurdistan was liquidated.
July 11, 1979 palace coup in Baghdad with the resignation of President al-Bakr, and Saddam Hussein holds the presidency until 2003.
In 1979, the Iraqi Communist Party goes underground and starts a guerrilla war in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan, in which Kurdish nationalists gradually begin to participate.

Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)

Reasons: ethnic and religious, political and economic, ideological and personal. The struggle for dominance in the region, the fragility of national cohesion and an arbitrary approach to the creation of "states" and the definition of their borders on the map of the Ottoman Empire that ceased to exist after the First World War. Geography was at the center of the conflict.

On the streets of Baghdad

The war began on September 22, 1980 with the invasion of the Iraqi army into the Iranian province of Khuzestan. By the summer of 1982, Iran returned the territories occupied by Iraq, after which the parties began a war of attrition. The armistice that ended the war was signed on 20 August 1988 and restored the pre-war situation.
In terms of duration, resources involved, and human casualties, the Iran-Iraq war is one of the largest military conflicts since World War II. During the war, chemical weapons were actively used.
June 7, 1981 14 Israeli fighter-bombers destroy two Iraqi nuclear reactors (Operation Opera), operating and under construction, as well as related research laboratories. The reactors were created with the help of France.
In 1987-1989 The Iraqi army conducted an Anfal military campaign against the guerrilla groups of Iraqi communists and Kurds, and chemical weapons were used. Between 100,000 and 180,000 civilians were killed during the operation.
On August 2, 1990, the Iraqi army invaded Kuwait, which was occupied and annexed by Iraq.
On February 28, 1991, after 5 weeks of air bombardments and 4 days of ground war, Kuwait was liberated by the forces of the international coalition led by the United States.
After the events in New York on September 11, 2001, US President George W. Bush accused Iraq, among other "rogue states", of supporting international terrorism and trying to develop weapons mass destruction. In a private conversation, George W. Bush said, "God instructed me to hit Saddam." Thus began the Iraq War.

Iraqi War

This is a military conflict that began with the invasion of US forces and their allies in Iraq in order to overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein.
The invasion took place on March 20, 2003 (the main participants are the US and the UK) to overthrow Saddam Hussein and to destroy weapons mass destruction, which was never found. On May 1, George W. Bush, aboard the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, proclaimed: "The tyrant has fallen, Iraq is free!" and declared the war won. The American Jay Garner, then Paul Bremer became the head of the interim administration of Iraq.

Destroyed Iraqi T-72 tank

Shiite extremist groups and the Iraqi Communist Party emerged from the underground. The Ba'ath Party went underground and organized a guerrilla war.
The Americans killed two of Saddam's sons and his 14-year-old grandson, first in a shootout and then by aerial bombing of the house where they were hiding.
Since the summer of 2003, a guerrilla war began, which reached its maximum by the summer of 2007.
December 30, 2006 ex-president Iraqi Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging.

Saddam Hussein (1937-2006)

Saddam Hussein is one of the most controversial figures of the 20th century. In Iraq, he was hated, feared and idolized. In the 1970s, he was the most popular personality in Iraq. Under him, the standard of living of Iraqis rose sharply, which was associated with the nationalization of Iraqi oil wealth. The Iraqi government invested huge revenues from oil exports in the development of the economy and the social sphere.
But, having become the president of the country, he plunged the country into a war with Iran, this war destroyed the Iraqi economy. He occupied neighboring Kuwait and became the worst enemy in the face of the West and the United States. Sanctions were imposed on Iraq, which worsened the standard of living of Iraqis, and this changed the opinion of the president.
He suppressed any dissent, carried out repressions against his enemies: he brutally suppressed the uprisings of Shiites and Kurds in 1991, struck at the Kurdish resistance in 1987-1988, got rid of real and potential enemies with the help of dexterity and intrigue, etc.
Saddam Hussein said about himself: “I don't care what they say about me now. I care about what people will say about me four or five hundred centuries after my death.”
5 years after the fall of Saddam Hussein, the violence in the country does not subside, remember his times.
The parties that won the 2010 elections were mired in endless squabbles. On December 18, 2011, the last US forces were withdrawn from Iraq. The remaining military, as well as officers of the Iraqi army, guard the US embassy.