Iraq

Community History

Iraq’s rich history encompasses the territory of ancient Mesopotamia, located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It is known as the “cradle of civilization” because people of the region developed some of the world’s earliest writing, literature, sciences, mathematics, laws, and philosophies. Over the centuries, the inhabitants were influenced by many civilizations and empires. Iraq has always been an ethnically diverse country, with Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians, and Turkmen representing the largest ethnic groups. Many religions, including Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Mandaeism, have adherents there.

1875–1900

The Tanzimat Reforms

In the late 19th century, Iraq was part of the Ottoman Empire and was divided into three provinces, or vilayets: Mosul, Baghdad, and Basra. The sprawling Ottoman territory was undergoing a transformative period of modernization and innovation called the Tanzimat Reforms, which established secular schools, reorganized the army, and worked to accord more rights to individuals. Family ties were the average Iraqi’s most important point of societal reference, more important than linguistic, ethnic, or sectarian divisions among the diverse populations in Iraq’s cities. Kinship groups in rural areas could number as many as tens of thousands of people who were distantly related to one another.

1900–1925

Diverse Cultures

When the Ottoman Empire fell at the end of World War I, its territory was redistributed and the present-day borders of Iraq were drawn, which was then placed under British control. The bustling city of Baghdad was made the capital of Iraq. The British installed a Hashemite monarchy and gave members of the minority Sunni community the most important government positions. Also, when establishing territorial boundaries, the British failed to take into account the country’s diverse population, including nomadic tribes, peasant farmers, and Kurdish herders in rural areas and Arab, Jewish, Kurdish, Assyrian, and Turkmen communities in urban centers. Many in Iraq longed for independence.

1925–1950

Iraqi Music

In the coffee houses and music clubs of Iraq’s larger cities, a vibrant music scene was coming to life. Muslim, Jewish, and Kurdish musicians all contributed to the country’s musical legacy, playing traditional string instruments including the oudand the qanun, both specific to Western Asia. In the countryside, musicians played rifi, folk music that originated in the rural regions of the Arabic-speaking world and was accompanied by a vocalist. In cities, since it was considered dishonorable for women to sing in public, most musicians were men, although some women disguised themselves as men in order to perform.

1950–1975

Art, Family, and Masgouf

that reflected the territorial roots of the Iraqi people. “Ba’ath” comes from the Arabic word for “renaissance,” and the regime encouraged artists to demonstrate the historical and cultural connection between modern Iraq and the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia. While traditional Iraqi art forms including sculpture, painting, and literature continued to flourish, so did Iraqi cuisine and other pastimes, including spending weekends with family in the backyard or inner courtyard of a traditional Baghdadi house making masgouf, seasoned grilled fish, one of Iraq’s most famed dishes.