Iraq History - From the Beginning of Man to the Fall of Saddam

Ancient Iraq

Modern day Iraq exists on what was once called Mesopotamia, Greek for "between the rivers." Mesopotamia is considered the cradle of civilization. The Garden of Eden, where mankind is believed to have originated, is said to be in Babylon, which is located in the rough sands of this war ridden Country.

It was home to several ancient cultures because of the fertile land created by the two rivers. The Sumerians, one of Mesopotamia’s earliest cultures, created some of the earliest writing ever found. There is also evidence of sciences, math, law and philosophy in their ancient writings.

During the spread of Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries, Baghdad was built. The Arabs ruled the region for five centuries and Baghdad became a center for learning and culture. In the 13th century, the Mongols conquered the area and Baghdad was destroyed.

The Establishment of Iraq the Nation

After the Mongol invasion, Baghdad was rebuilt and the surrounding area changed hands a few times. By the 15th century, the Ottoman Empire ruled the region. Their rule lasted until World War II.

During the war, the United Kingdom drove out the Ottomans. Afterwards, through a series of treaties and agreements, the nations of the Middle East were established. Britain was given governance over Iraq and Palestine. The United Kingdom put King Faisal in power, and appointed other government officials.

By 1932, the king successfully petitioned for independence. The kingdom of Iraq lasted through 1958, with many attempted military coups and a brief period of reoccupation by the United Kingdom.

The Republic of Iraq

The Iraqi army successfully overthrew the monarchy in 1958 during the July 14 Revolution. After the coup Brigadier General Abdul Karim Qassim was in power. Colonel Abdul Salam Arif overthrew General Qassim in 1963. However, his rule only lasted until 1968 when the Arab Socialist Baath Party took over the capital in a military coup.

Saddam Hussein eventually gained control of the party, mainly by killing his opponents. Hussein led the country through the Iran-Iraq war from 1980 through 1988. Iraq used chemical warfare against both the Iranian army and civilians. During that time, Hussein also committed atrocities against his own people.

Modern Military Campaigns against Iraq

In 1990, Hussein invaded Kuwait and started the Gulf War. The United States, among other countries, participated in the war. Economic sanctions were also imposed on the country. The intent was to persuade Saddam to destroy his weapons of mass destruction. The conflict ended in 1991 and resulted in the liberation of Kuwait, but not the end of UN sanctions.

In 2002, the United States led a coalition of nations in an invasion of Iraq. They contended that Iraq had not followed the UN mandated destruction of chemical and nuclear weapons. The coalition forces were successful in ousting Hussein from power. A new democratic Iraqi government was voted into power in October 2005. Coalition forces still remain in Iraq to help the new government maintain order.

Joshua Spaulding is an Iraq War Veteran who served in Iraq throughout the initial invasion. To read more interesting articles on Iraq and the War in Iraq visit Josh's Article Directory at http://www.everyonesarticles.com/