1 | 2 Description (Page 1)
Over the centuries numerous empires dominated Mesopotamia, the fertile land we now call Iraq. Located between the
Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, its capital city of Baghdad was at one time the most significant commercial and cultural center in the entire Muslim world.
Dozens of invasions and wars would follow, and in 1638, it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks.
The Ottomans controlled Iraq until the onset of World War I, at which point they were pushed out of the country by the
United Kingdom after having sided with
Germany and the Central Powers.
Post war, the League of Nations granted the
United Kingdom authority over Mesopotamia and Palestine, and on November 11, 1920 the Mesopotamian region became known as the Sate of Iraq.
During the
British occupation of Iraq, widespread tension erupted between the Shi'ites and Kurds as the two fought for independence. In an attempt to improve conditions,
Britain replaced the civil commissioner in Baghdad with Sir Percy Cox who managed to subdue the uprising.
In 1932, a decade after
Turkey's defeat in World War I, Iraq became an independent kingdom.
The Iraqi regime was briefly eradicated during World War II by the Golden Square officers, led by Rashid Al, before being destroyed by the Allied forces and becoming a base for allied attacks.
Following World War II, Iraq became a founding member of the Arab League and joined the United Nations.
An uprising broke out in 1948, and protests were widespread and violent throughout Baghdad. However, the disorder quickly subdued at the onset of the Arab-Israeli War between the
State of Israel and their Arab neighbors.
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