The History of Iraq (Hardcover)

Since the early 1990s, Iraq and its former dictator, Saddam Hussein, has remained a fixture in the newspaper headlines of the Western world. However, few American adults know or understand the rich cultural history or the political forces that have shaped modern Iraq. As the future of Iraq is being written now, a clear understanding of the history of Iraq is crucial in our new global environment. For many Americans, Iraq is a nation steeped in mystery and shadows. Through ten narrative chapters, Hunt delves into the rich history of this land starting with the earliest settlements in Mesopotamia and the resulting Sumerian civilization. The Muslim faith was introduced after the conquer of the Muslim Army and Mesopotamia's renaissance era began. The Ottomans conquered Baghdad in 1534 and after a century of desiring control of Iraqi oil, the British were given the mandate of Iraq post-WWI. Britain's control was overthrown in 1958 and the Ba'athist party gained control of Iraq in 1968 after ten years of grappling with the Communist party for power. In 1979, Saddam Hussein became president of Iraq and a series of wars broke out, first with the Iran-Iraq War followed by the two Gulf Wars. After the elections, the country's future is left to the strength and perseverance of the Iraqi people. Ideal for students and general readers, the History of Iraq is part of Greenwood's Histories of Modern Nations series. With over thirty nation's histories in print, these books provide readers with a concise, up-to-date history of countries throughout the world. Reference features include a biographical section highlighting famous figures in Iraqi history, a timeline of important historical events, aglossary of terms, and a bibliographical essay with suggestions for further reading.