Iraq is located in southwestern Asia, in the heart of the Middle East.

Iraq is about the size of California.

Iraq covers most of the area of ancient Mesopotamia, which centered on the land between the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers. Mesopotamia, also called to as the “Fertile Crescent”, was an important center of early civilization.

The first human civilization, called Sumer, has developed in Iraq around 4000 B.C.

The land of Mesopotamia belonged to the Sumerians, who built:

1- Advanced irrigation systems

2- Developed grain agriculture3- Invented the earliest form

of writing 4- Invented a math system

which the modern world is based on

The Earliest Form of Writing System

5- Invented the wheel 6- Invented the first plow 7- Literature was produced, including the first known recorded story, the Epic of Gilgamesh. 8- Science and art.

Unlike the Egyptians who believed that all land belonged to the pharaoh, Sumerians believed that everyone needs their private property.

When the Sumerian civilization collapsed in 1700 B.C., King Hammurabi took over the area and renamed it Babylonia.

Hammurabi, a great leader known for creating the first recorded laws in history, united the Assyrians and Babylonians in harmony.

King Hammurabi

Babylon, which is south of Babylon, which is south of Baghdad, became the most Baghdad, became the most famous city in the world, famous city in the world, and became proud of, and became proud of, among other things, the among other things, the Hanging Gardens of Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Babylon.

The Hanging Gardens of The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are considered one Babylon are considered one of the Seven Wonders of of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was the Ancient World. It was built by the built by the Nebuchadnezzar II around Nebuchadnezzar II around 600 BC to please his sick 600 BC to please his sick wife, Amytis who loved wife, Amytis who loved trees and delightful plants trees and delightful plants of her homeland Persia. of her homeland Persia. The gardens were The gardens were destroyed by several destroyed by several earthquakes.earthquakes.

Babylonia became part of the Babylonia became part of the Persian Empire, until Arab Persian Empire, until Arab Muslims took over it. Muslims took over it.

Baghdad, capital city of Iraq, was the

headquarters of the Abbasid empire which stretched out Islam all over Asia and beyond.

They built many mosques, schools,

universities all in one. Madrasa Al-Mustansiriya

Math and Science books

destroyed by the

Mongols

In Iraq, its our high priority to build buildings according to historic style, like archaeological sites, mosques, and government buildings.

Ziggurats were built by the Sumerians, Babylonians, and Assyrians for local religions. Each ziggurat was part of a complex temple which included other buildings.

Ziggurat of Nana, the temple of Ishtar, fortress of

Nebuchadnezzar, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are all

historic landmarks.

Ziggurat of Nana (the Goddess of

the Moon )

Replica of the real Gate of Temple of Ishtar

Assyrian Winged Lion and Bull Statue Guardians

Almalweeya in Samarra

Taq-i Kisra

Nice waterfall in Northern parts of Iraq

Tropical in the east and southeast

The west is mostly desert.

The northern parts of Iraq are

mountainous and experience cold, harsh winters, and pleasant

summer months.

In the summer, a dry, dusty wind called the shamal blasts through the country with dust storms, lasting for several days.

Since the country is so dry, there are few plants, except for the date palm tree, known for its dates. In fact, more than 80% of the world's date supply is grown in Iraq.

95%of the population of Iraq practice the religion Islam.(54% Shias and 41% Sunnis)

The second-largest cultural group is the Kurds, who live in the highlands and mountain valleys of the north.

Then the rest of the people are divided into several other ethnic groups, including Assyrian, Turkoman, Chaldean, Armenian, Yazidi, Christians and Jewish.

Shrine of Imam Ali in Al-Najaf, South of Iraq

Imam Abu Hanifa Shrine on Prophet Muhammad’s (P.B.U.H)

Birthday

Buniya Mosque

in Baghdad

Marth Mariam Church in Baghdad

Syriaan Church in Basra, Southern of Iraq

The traditional dress that Iraqi men wear is the dishdasha. The shmag, a white or checkered square scarf folded into a triangle and sometimes worn over a small white cap with the agal, a circular black rope or plaited-cord device to hold the shmag in place.

The traditional costume includes the abayah, a long black cloak worn over a dress and covering the wearer from head to foot.

Traditionally, Kurdish women wear colorful skirts and blouses. Men wear baggy, colorful pants with a plain shirt having very full sleeves, which were

tied at the elbow.

Football is the most popular sport in Iraq. Other popular sports in Iraq include wrestling, volleyball, taekwondo, karate and basketball.

The Iraqi football team is called the "Brazil of Asia”. This team is one of the Asia's most successful. It won fourth place during the 27th Summer Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece. In 2004. Iraq was the only Asian country in the finals.

Younis Mahmoud is an Iraqi football icon. He is best known as the athlete who scored the winning goal for Iraq in the Asian Cup in 2007.

Coach Ammo Baba, One of the BEST players and coaches.

Iraq made history on July 29, 2007, when its team won the Asian Nations Cup. They beat the three-times Asian champions Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final held in Jakarta, Indonesia. In Jakarta, throughout the match, a loving crowd of more than 60,000, which included thousands of Iraqi fans, chanted "Iraq ! Iraq!”. It was one of the few unifying moments in the recent history of Iraq.

The country of Iraq is known for its poets and painters and sculptors whom are among the best in the Arab world.

Iraqi food is strongly influenced by its neighboring countries, Turkey and Iran.

There are several dishes native to the country. Masgoof is a fish on a stick barbequed on an outdoor grill.

Other common dishes include kebabs, and Dolma (spicy rice stuffing in vegetables)

A popular side dish, turshi, is a mixture of pickled vegetables

Other popular dishes include Chicken with Fruit, Kubbat Burghul, Kubat Halab, Biryani…etc.

Desserts are a favorite among the Iraqis. They include Baklawa and Zlabia, a pastry made of honey and nuts layered between paper-thin sheets of dough. There’s Kleacha. Dough inside it dates.

Iraqis always prefer to drink tea with

Kleacha.

Iraqis are known for being very generous and polite, especially when it comes to mealtime. Many Iraqis feed their guests well before themselves. Most Iraqis hosts feel that they are failing in their role as hosts if their guests have not tried all of their dishes. In fact, proper appreciation is shown by overeating.

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