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The Middle East: Iraq

Objective: To recognize and discuss the history, people, culture, and

current day situation of Iraq.

Part I History:

Early Civilizations of Mesopotamia

3000 BC• Ancient Sumerians

settle in Southern Mesopotamia

• Ancient Sumerians built the world’s 1st cities.

The Persian, Hellenistic & Classical Periods:

500 BC• The Persian Empire

conquered Mesopotamia

• The Empire later became part of the famous Alexander the Greats’ large Empire

• Arabs conquer Mesopotamia

• People begin to convert to Islam

600 A.D.

•Mesopotamia becomes part of the Ottoman Empire

The Post- Classical Period & the 20th c.:

1500 AD 1921• After WWI, Great

Britain takes over the region- mandates• British put King

Feisal- • Son of ruler of Mecca

(an outsider) in power

The 20th c. Iraq:

• Socialist Ba’ath Party takes power

• Ba’ath leader Saddam Hussein becomes the President of Iraq

1968 1979• British

installed monarchy overthrown & internal revolts

1958

1980-1988 Iraq-Iran War• Iraq invades Iran under Hussein’s leadership

• Iran fights back• Iraq-Iran War damages both economies and many

killed = disaster

Saddam in Power: 1990

• Iraq invades Kuwait• Worries world because

don’t want Iraq to have their oil resources

• Increased worry about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction- biological/ chemical

• Persian Gulf War- lasts 6 weeks

• An alliances of countries led by US forces Iraqis out of Kuwait

• Saddam refuses to accept UN Peace terms

• UN places an embargo (trade limit) on Iraq ; their economy suffers as a result

1991

•Further Rebellions •Saddam refuses to cooperate with UN after asked to stop all military activity & ALLOW inspectors into country

1992-2000

20th c. Iraq

2001• Sept. 11 2001 terrorist attacks

on US • Increase tension between US

and Iraq (US thinks he’s related in some way)

• Bush orders to attack Iraqi targets and destroy weapons of Mass destruction

• Few months later Saddam found hiding in an underground hole in Iraq (is executed in 2006 for “crimes against humanity”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_A77N5WKWM

Part II People & Culture:

• Iraq= size of Cali (26 million pple) • Most pple. live in cities Ethnic Groups: – Most pple belong to two major groups: • Arabs• Kurds

– Arabs are the largest group & make up more than 75% of the pop.

– Speak country’s official lang. – Kurds- smaller groups & minority- 15-20% of pop. Mostly

farmers & live in Northern Iraq- speak Kurdish Religion:• All Iraqis both Arab & Kurdish are Muslim- within Iraq have

two branches:• Sunni- 35% of population & live in North • Shia/ Shiite – 60% live in South

Part III Iraq Today:

Rebuilding Baghdad: • Capital of Baghdad was badly damaged in recent war• 6 million pple suffered from lack of electricity & running water

(US millions & private contractors help restore powers)• Helped rebuild homes, businesses & schools Government & Economy: • Jan 2005 Iraqis participate in democracy for the 1st time ever • Millions went to the polls to elect members to Natl. Assembly • Build new govt. & try to recover economy • In 1970s Iraq was world’s 2nd largest exporter (have oil as

resources) also wide plains and fertile soil- grow barley, cotton, rice

• Decades of harsh govt & wars = Future peace? • Rebuilding schools, hospitals, roads, and other improvements

may take years