Baghdad, the capital of Iraq
In Iraq, all roads lead to the capital Baghdad, the City of the Caliphs and birthplace of Sinbad, the famous sailor and prosperous merchant. A city with a glorious past and a magnificent present.
Baghdad indeed, reflects the most unusual country that frames it. Iraq, after all, is the old, old Mesopotamia of Sumer, Babylon, Assyria, of the glorious sun-burst of the Abbasid Empire of Harun Al-Rashid, of Persian intrusions, and the affliction of 4 hundred dead years of Ottoman rule. In other words, Baghdad is the still-beating heart of a former cradle of civilization, a country as historically dramatic as the Nile Valley or Ancient Greece.
How old is Baghdad?
Baghdad, as a name, had been mentioned as Baghdadu on the Assyrian cuneiform records of the 9th century BC, and Babylonian bricks bearing the Royal Seal of King Nebuchadnezzar (6th century BC) were found in the Tigris here. It also appeared in many other historical records prior to the Christian era. But whatever settlement existed then, historic Baghdad was undoubtedly founded by the 2nd of the Abbasid Caliphs, Abu Ja'far Al-Mansour (AD 754-775), who had established his capital (The Round City) in almost the same location on the west bank of the Tigris River in 762 AD, and the name Baghdad is probably a combination of two Persian words meaning "Founded by God". Arabs call it "Dar Essalam" (The City of Peace).
Baghdad indeed, reflects the most unusual country that frames it. Iraq, after all, is the old, old Mesopotamia of Sumer, Babylon, Assyria, of the glorious sun-burst of the Abbasid Empire of Harun Al-Rashid, of Persian intrusions, and the affliction of 4 hundred dead years of Ottoman rule. In other words, Baghdad is the still-beating heart of a former cradle of civilization, a country as historically dramatic as the Nile Valley or Ancient Greece.
How old is Baghdad?
Baghdad, as a name, had been mentioned as Baghdadu on the Assyrian cuneiform records of the 9th century BC, and Babylonian bricks bearing the Royal Seal of King Nebuchadnezzar (6th century BC) were found in the Tigris here. It also appeared in many other historical records prior to the Christian era. But whatever settlement existed then, historic Baghdad was undoubtedly founded by the 2nd of the Abbasid Caliphs, Abu Ja'far Al-Mansour (AD 754-775), who had established his capital (The Round City) in almost the same location on the west bank of the Tigris River in 762 AD, and the name Baghdad is probably a combination of two Persian words meaning "Founded by God". Arabs call it "Dar Essalam" (The City of Peace).
Basra, Iraq
The region of Basra, the city of Sinbad the Sailorand the starting point of his famous adventurous voyages to the World, is, some would say, the most beautiful part of Iraq, outshining both the Persian miniature scenery of the central Euphrates and the cool, majestic north.
But Basra retains a romantic aura. So does the whole area of the south from Shatt El-Arab (the meeting point of Tigris and Euphrates rivers) up to Amara on the Tigris and Suq Eshiukh on the Euphrates: it is lush, watered, full of trees and gardens and canoes gliding on the mirror-surfaces of calm lagoons. It is an area of countless birds and a variety of animals. You feel that lions, possibly dragons or the Great Roc of A Thousand and One Nights may appear.
Basra is Iraq's 3rd largest city and main seaport, situated 67 km to the north of the Arabian Gulf and 549 km south east of Baghdad .
When you see it today, you will be reminded of the commercial importance it has enjoyed for centuries; endless ships shuttle back and forth on Shatt El-Arab.
But Basra retains a romantic aura. So does the whole area of the south from Shatt El-Arab (the meeting point of Tigris and Euphrates rivers) up to Amara on the Tigris and Suq Eshiukh on the Euphrates: it is lush, watered, full of trees and gardens and canoes gliding on the mirror-surfaces of calm lagoons. It is an area of countless birds and a variety of animals. You feel that lions, possibly dragons or the Great Roc of A Thousand and One Nights may appear.
Basra is Iraq's 3rd largest city and main seaport, situated 67 km to the north of the Arabian Gulf and 549 km south east of Baghdad .
When you see it today, you will be reminded of the commercial importance it has enjoyed for centuries; endless ships shuttle back and forth on Shatt El-Arab.
Mosul, Iraq
Mosul, 396 km north of Baghdad, is Iraq's 2nd largest city, a center for the tourist resorts of northern Iraq, and the north's major center for trade, industry and communications, with approximately 570,000 inhabitants. Situated in the northwestern part of the country, on the west bank of Tigris, and close to the ruined Assyrian city of Nineveh.
Mosul is called Um Al-Rabi'ain (The City of Two Springs), because autumn and spring are very much alike there. It is also named Al-Faiha (The Paradise), Al-Khadhra (The Green), and Al-Hadba (The Humped), and sometimes described as the Pearl of the North.This city has been continuously inhabited since Assyrian times. Long before Islam, a number of Arab tribes had settled in it, and in later times it played a leading role in the Arab wars of conquest and became a city of great importance. It was an important trade center in the Abbasid era, because of its strategic position on the caravan route between India, Persia and the Mediterranean. It's chief export was cotton, and today's word muslin is derived from the name of the city.
Mosul is called Um Al-Rabi'ain (The City of Two Springs), because autumn and spring are very much alike there. It is also named Al-Faiha (The Paradise), Al-Khadhra (The Green), and Al-Hadba (The Humped), and sometimes described as the Pearl of the North.This city has been continuously inhabited since Assyrian times. Long before Islam, a number of Arab tribes had settled in it, and in later times it played a leading role in the Arab wars of conquest and became a city of great importance. It was an important trade center in the Abbasid era, because of its strategic position on the caravan route between India, Persia and the Mediterranean. It's chief export was cotton, and today's word muslin is derived from the name of the city.
Al Anbar
Anbar Province (or Al Anbar Governorate) is the largest province in Iraq geographically. Encompassing much of the country's western territory, it shares borders with Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The provincial capital is Ramadi, other important cities include Fallujah and Haditha.
Before 1976 the province was known as Ramadi; before 1962, it was known as Dulaim. in 1976 it was renamed Al Anbar Province.
Just about all the inhabitants of the province are Sunni Muslims and mostly from the Dulaim tribe.The name of the province is from the Persian Anbār, which means "granaries," in Arabic as this region was the primary entrepot on the western borders of Lakhmid Kingdom.
Before 1976 the province was known as Ramadi; before 1962, it was known as Dulaim. in 1976 it was renamed Al Anbar Province.
Just about all the inhabitants of the province are Sunni Muslims and mostly from the Dulaim tribe.The name of the province is from the Persian Anbār, which means "granaries," in Arabic as this region was the primary entrepot on the western borders of Lakhmid Kingdom.
Erbil , Iraq
is, with a population of approximately 1.3 million (2009), the fourth largest city in Iraq after Baghdad, Basra and Mosul. t is located 80 kilometres (50 miles) east of Mosul, and is the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.
Urban life at Erbil can be dated back to at least 6000 BC,and it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. At the heart of the city is the ancient Citadel of Arbil. The Hurrians were the first to establish Urbilum and expand their rule to the rest of northern Mesopotamia. The city has since been under the rule of many regional powers, including the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Arabs, and the Seljuk and Ottoman Turks. Erbil's archaeological museum houses a large collection of pre-Islamic artifacts, and is a center for archaeological projects in the area
Urban life at Erbil can be dated back to at least 6000 BC,and it is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. At the heart of the city is the ancient Citadel of Arbil. The Hurrians were the first to establish Urbilum and expand their rule to the rest of northern Mesopotamia. The city has since been under the rule of many regional powers, including the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Arabs, and the Seljuk and Ottoman Turks. Erbil's archaeological museum houses a large collection of pre-Islamic artifacts, and is a center for archaeological projects in the area
Najaf, Iraq
Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf or Holy Najaf, 161 km south of Baghdad, is a site of great religious significance to Muslims being home of the sacred shrine of the 4th Caliph os Islam Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (kaw), cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh). Beside being the center of Islamic theological teaching as well as jurisprudence and literature studies.
The shrine of Imam Ali is enclosed in a mosque in the city center named Al-Haidariya Shrine with resplendent golden dome made of 7,777 tiles of pure gold and two 35 meters high golden minarets each made of 40,000 gold tiles.Great quantities of priceless objects, gifts of potentates and sultans, are treasured in the mosque which is visited by millions of pilgrims annually.Great quantities of priceless objects, gifts of potentates and sultans, are treasured in the mosque which is visited by millions of pilgrims annually.Historians say that the tomb of Imam Ali was first discovered around 750 AD (139 AH) by Dawood Bin Ali Al-Abbas, then built by Azod Eddowleh in 977; that it was burnt later and rebuilt by the Seljuk Malek Shah in 1086, and rebuilt yet again by Ismail Shah, the Safawid, in about 1500.The tomb has the same style as those of Kerbala, Samarra and Kadhimain in Baghdad. It is a rectangular enclosure surrounding a two-storied sanctuary, containing the tomb, with a great dome over it.
The shrine of Imam Ali is enclosed in a mosque in the city center named Al-Haidariya Shrine with resplendent golden dome made of 7,777 tiles of pure gold and two 35 meters high golden minarets each made of 40,000 gold tiles.Great quantities of priceless objects, gifts of potentates and sultans, are treasured in the mosque which is visited by millions of pilgrims annually.Great quantities of priceless objects, gifts of potentates and sultans, are treasured in the mosque which is visited by millions of pilgrims annually.Historians say that the tomb of Imam Ali was first discovered around 750 AD (139 AH) by Dawood Bin Ali Al-Abbas, then built by Azod Eddowleh in 977; that it was burnt later and rebuilt by the Seljuk Malek Shah in 1086, and rebuilt yet again by Ismail Shah, the Safawid, in about 1500.The tomb has the same style as those of Kerbala, Samarra and Kadhimain in Baghdad. It is a rectangular enclosure surrounding a two-storied sanctuary, containing the tomb, with a great dome over it.
Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
Sulaymaniyah or Slemani, is a city in Iraqi Kurdistan, Iraq. It is the capital of Sulaymaniyah Governorate. Sulaymaniyah is surrounded by the Azmar Range, Goizja Range and the Qaiwan Range in the north east, Baranan Mountain in the south and the Tasluje Hills in the west. The city has a semi-arid climate with very hot and dry summers and very cold winters. Sulaymaniyah served as the historic capital of the Kurdish principality of Baban from 1784 to 1850.
The modern city of Sulaymaniyah was founded on 14 November 1784 by the Kurdish prince Ibrahim Pasha Baban who named it after his father Sulaiman Pasha. Because it was founded as the capital of a powerful Kurdish principality, Sulaymaniyah has developed into a large city with a population of about 1.500.000 people. It is the cultural center of the Sorani-speaking Kurds and an important economic center for Iraqi Kurdistan.
The modern city of Sulaymaniyah was founded on 14 November 1784 by the Kurdish prince Ibrahim Pasha Baban who named it after his father Sulaiman Pasha. Because it was founded as the capital of a powerful Kurdish principality, Sulaymaniyah has developed into a large city with a population of about 1.500.000 people. It is the cultural center of the Sorani-speaking Kurds and an important economic center for Iraqi Kurdistan.
Samarra, Iraq
Samarra, about 124 km north of Baghdad, is one of the four Islamic Holy Cities of Iraq, and is considered as the largest ancient city known in the whole World with its majestic ruins which extends about 9 km horizontally and 34 km vertically along the eastern bank of the Tigris.
It was built by Caliph Al-Mu'tasim in 836 AD to replace Baghdad as the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, and abandoned by Caliph Al-Mu'tamid in 892 AD. Despite the short sojourn of the Abbasid Caliphate in Samarra, the city's artistic, literary, and scientific splendors have remained a legend in Arab history.
The Great Mosque
A dominating, magnificent structure that was once the largest mosque in the Islamic world built by Caliph Al-Mutawakkil in 852 AD using bricks and clay.
It has a rectangular plan measuring 240x160 m with walls 10 m high and 2.65 m thick, supported by 44 towers. The courtyard was surrounded on all sides by an arcade. The greatest part of which was the one facing Holy Mecca.
It was built by Caliph Al-Mu'tasim in 836 AD to replace Baghdad as the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, and abandoned by Caliph Al-Mu'tamid in 892 AD. Despite the short sojourn of the Abbasid Caliphate in Samarra, the city's artistic, literary, and scientific splendors have remained a legend in Arab history.
The Great Mosque
A dominating, magnificent structure that was once the largest mosque in the Islamic world built by Caliph Al-Mutawakkil in 852 AD using bricks and clay.
It has a rectangular plan measuring 240x160 m with walls 10 m high and 2.65 m thick, supported by 44 towers. The courtyard was surrounded on all sides by an arcade. The greatest part of which was the one facing Holy Mecca.
Kerbala, Iraq
Kerbala is the Holy City of martyrdom and sacrifice, 102 km south of Baghdad and 78 km north of Najaf. Housing the tombs of the best-loved martyr,Imam Abbas bin Ali ibn Abi Talib (as), who martyred here with his brother Imam Hussein, grandsons of the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), together with many others whom all were buried in the two great shrines of the city.
It is not only the Mecca and Medina, as it were of Iraq, but also the scene of possibly the most moving incident in Islamic religious history, the tragic Battle of Al-Tuff (680 AD - 10th of Moharram, 61 AH), which were martyred Imams Hussein and Abbas.
The elegance and originality of Arab-Islamic architecture are well evident in Al-Abbaseyya Shrine. In every corner of the shrine, there are some magnificent artistic decorations. Al-Husseineyya Shrine is considered one of the Islamic architecture's wonders. According to historical sources, the first building to embrace the tomb of Imam Hussein goes back to the year 685 AD (65 AH). About two centuries later, the Abbasid Caliph Al-Montasir Billah 861 AD (247 AH) rebuilt the tomb and in 5th century AH, Al-Hasan ibn Al-Fadhil built a fence around it.
It is not only the Mecca and Medina, as it were of Iraq, but also the scene of possibly the most moving incident in Islamic religious history, the tragic Battle of Al-Tuff (680 AD - 10th of Moharram, 61 AH), which were martyred Imams Hussein and Abbas.
The elegance and originality of Arab-Islamic architecture are well evident in Al-Abbaseyya Shrine. In every corner of the shrine, there are some magnificent artistic decorations. Al-Husseineyya Shrine is considered one of the Islamic architecture's wonders. According to historical sources, the first building to embrace the tomb of Imam Hussein goes back to the year 685 AD (65 AH). About two centuries later, the Abbasid Caliph Al-Montasir Billah 861 AD (247 AH) rebuilt the tomb and in 5th century AH, Al-Hasan ibn Al-Fadhil built a fence around it.
Dohuk
Dohuk is the capital of Dahuk Governorate in Iraq. It has about 255,000 inhabitants, mostly consisting of Kurds, with a significant Assyrian population.
Dohuk was originally an Assyrian town named Beth Nuhadra or Naarda, where it became an eparchy within the metropolitanate of Ḥadyab (Arbil).
The city is encircled by mountains along the Tigris river. Duhok has a growing tourist industry, its population having grown rapidly since the 1990s as the rural population moved to the cities. The University of Dohuk, founded in 1992, is a renowned center for teaching and research in Dohuk.
Dohuk was originally an Assyrian town named Beth Nuhadra or Naarda, where it became an eparchy within the metropolitanate of Ḥadyab (Arbil).
The city is encircled by mountains along the Tigris river. Duhok has a growing tourist industry, its population having grown rapidly since the 1990s as the rural population moved to the cities. The University of Dohuk, founded in 1992, is a renowned center for teaching and research in Dohuk.