Present-day Iraq is part of ancient Mesopotamia, a word that means 'between the rivers,' what we call the Fertile Crescent, and home to the world's first known civilizations starting with the Sumerian, the Akkadian, the Babylonian and the Assyrian. The names of kings and cities, as well as myths and legends of all kinds resonate with people throughout the world, no matter their religion or heritage.
Science, mathematics, law, philosophy, art... The Tower of Babel... the Garden of Eden... Alexander the Great... all of these and thousands more names from this area ring through history.
Who hasn't heard of Babylon and its king, Nebuchadnezzar, and the famous hanging gardens, one of the ancient world's seven wonders? What might not be so well known is that they developed a form of algebra there as well - the quadratic formula.
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The Code of Hammurabi, created ca. 1760 BC, is a stone tablet inscribed with the laws of Hammurabi's kingdom, and their punishments. This is one of the earliest examples we have of ancient laws - and certainly one of the best preserved stone tablets from history.
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10,000 years ago the practice of agriculture began in the Fertile Crescent and spread throughout the world, changing the way early civilizations organized their societies, and revolutionizing the way people existed in the world.
These and hundreds of other innovations began here in the Fertile Crescent... Mesopotamia... Iraq. In a very real sense human culture itself started here, and the evidence of the history of all humankind exists under the surface, a treasure trove unequaled anywhere else in the world.
It is up to us to preserve and protect that heritage.
This is probably the briefest history of ancient Iraq in existence. If you would like to learn more, search for "Mesopotamia History," "Iraq History," "Fertile Crescent," "agriculture origins" or "Ancient Iraq" in any search engine.
For more information on my project, to contribute ideas, funding, sources or research, or to ask a question, please email me.
MA - Cultural Studies