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I've been out of town on business the past week or so but I'm back. Nothing significant to report so I thought I'd give you some good info on Iraq from the CIA World Book. I hope they don't sue me for copying their stuff.
HISTORY
Iraq occupies what was once known as Mesopotamia, the territory that historians and anthropologists consider the site of the earliest civilizations. Many believe that Iraq’s history began with the Garden of Eden, which was situated near Al Basrah, where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers converge. The major civilizations of Mesopotamia include the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and then later, Arabs.
Iraq became part of the Turkish Ottoman empire in the 16th century until that empire disintegrated after World War I. In the peace settlement following the war, the Allies divided the Ottoman lands among them. Britain gained control of the territory that became Iraq. Britain retained control of the country until 1958, when a group of army officers killed the British-imposed king and proclaimed a republic. The 1958 Coup was followed by another in 1968, when President Ahmad Hasan al Bakr led the Ba’athist coup. Saddam Hussein, a key Ba’ath party leader behind the scenes, was a Tikriti and a relative of al Bakr.
CULTURES
There are five major ethnic groups in the country: Arab, Kurd, Turkoman, Chaldean, and Assyrian. The Chaldean and Assyrian groups are Christian. There are other smaller Christian sects living in Iraq, such as the Armenians, and a group that are followers of John the Baptist. The followers of John the Baptizer observe major life events (such as weddings) in the river. They wear very colorful traditional clothing and live in close knit villages.
Today, Chaldeans claim to be the largest group of Christians in Iraq, and they are most numerous in and around Baghdad and other large cities. Although Chaldea, the last ancient Mesopotamian state, collapsed more than 2,500 years ago, Chaldeans have remained a cohesive group. They have maintained linguistic and geographical continuity for as much as four millennia and religious continuity since at least the 5th century when they widely accepted Christianity.
Assyrians believe they are the descendants of the ancient civilization of Assyria, with its principal capital in Ninevah, a city located in northern Iraq and mentioned in the biblical story of Jonah. Although the ancient Assyrian empire collapsed more than 2,500 years ago, Assyrians have remained a remarkably cohesive group. They have maintained linguistic and geographical continuity for as much as four millennia and religious continuity since at least the 5th century when they accepted Christianity.
The Assyrians suffered persecution under Saddam Hussein, having their churches and schools closed. Assyrians resist attempts by the Iraqi government to label them as “ancient Iraqis” and “Iraqi Christians.”
I've been out of town on business the past week or so but I'm back. Nothing significant to report so I thought I'd give you some good info on Iraq from the CIA World Book. I hope they don't sue me for copying their stuff.
HISTORY
Iraq occupies what was once known as Mesopotamia, the territory that historians and anthropologists consider the site of the earliest civilizations. Many believe that Iraq’s history began with the Garden of Eden, which was situated near Al Basrah, where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers converge. The major civilizations of Mesopotamia include the Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and then later, Arabs.
Iraq became part of the Turkish Ottoman empire in the 16th century until that empire disintegrated after World War I. In the peace settlement following the war, the Allies divided the Ottoman lands among them. Britain gained control of the territory that became Iraq. Britain retained control of the country until 1958, when a group of army officers killed the British-imposed king and proclaimed a republic. The 1958 Coup was followed by another in 1968, when President Ahmad Hasan al Bakr led the Ba’athist coup. Saddam Hussein, a key Ba’ath party leader behind the scenes, was a Tikriti and a relative of al Bakr.
CULTURES
There are five major ethnic groups in the country: Arab, Kurd, Turkoman, Chaldean, and Assyrian. The Chaldean and Assyrian groups are Christian. There are other smaller Christian sects living in Iraq, such as the Armenians, and a group that are followers of John the Baptist. The followers of John the Baptizer observe major life events (such as weddings) in the river. They wear very colorful traditional clothing and live in close knit villages.
Today, Chaldeans claim to be the largest group of Christians in Iraq, and they are most numerous in and around Baghdad and other large cities. Although Chaldea, the last ancient Mesopotamian state, collapsed more than 2,500 years ago, Chaldeans have remained a cohesive group. They have maintained linguistic and geographical continuity for as much as four millennia and religious continuity since at least the 5th century when they widely accepted Christianity.
Assyrians believe they are the descendants of the ancient civilization of Assyria, with its principal capital in Ninevah, a city located in northern Iraq and mentioned in the biblical story of Jonah. Although the ancient Assyrian empire collapsed more than 2,500 years ago, Assyrians have remained a remarkably cohesive group. They have maintained linguistic and geographical continuity for as much as four millennia and religious continuity since at least the 5th century when they accepted Christianity.
The Assyrians suffered persecution under Saddam Hussein, having their churches and schools closed. Assyrians resist attempts by the Iraqi government to label them as “ancient Iraqis” and “Iraqi Christians.”
posted by AWE, COL, USA | 6:36 AM
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