American intelligence agencies have monitored iraq since the early 1970s, when the soviet union attempted to use the nation as a springboard for at tacking iran and the persian gulf. Palestine is a small region of landroughly 2,400 square milesthat has played a prominent role in the ancient and modern history of the middle east. Iraq kuwait 1990 1991 iraq invaded and annexed kuwait on august 2, 1990. The sanctions were lifted in 2003 after the usled invasion removed saddam hussein from power, but development of iraq s oil resources has been hampered by the ongoing conflict. A study of iraqs old landed and commercial classes and of its communists, bathists and free officers by hanna batatu, saqi books, 2004, 1,284 pp. A military history by williamson murray in epub, rtf, txt download e book. Just wellwritten, wellresearched, informative and interesting books for historians, history students and history enthusiasts. This list includes books about iraq, the 1991 war and recent events in the persian gulf. The modern nationstate of iraq was created following world war i from the ottoman provinces of baghdad, basra, and mosul. The country of iraq is a relatively modern phenomena, with the entire region, in antiquity and into modern times known as mesopotamia. The best books on the history of iraq five books expert.
In the mesopotamian campaign against the central powers, british forces invaded the country and suffered a major defeat at the hands of the turkish army during the siege of kut 191516. The middle east, old and new in 1902, theodor herzl, the father of political zionism, pub lished a utopian novel entitled altneuland oldnew land. Defending the regime and iraq after 1982 235 a war of attrition 19848238 resistance among the kurds and the shia 243 the aftermath of war and the invasion of kuwait 198890 248 the war for kuwait and the uprisings of 1991 253 iraq under sanctions and the long aftermath of the gulf war 259 the resilience of saddam husains regime 264. Iraq lies in what historians and geographers commonly refer to as the fertile crescent. This book is a survey of ancient iraq covering 2,500 years or more. Since the old persian kings had composed their inscriptions in three vii. Iraq legal history and traditions this report is a political history, based on consensus views in the international community, including writings by historians and political scientists as well as lawyers. A new middle east does exist in places, but there is still an old middle east of tradition. The 1960s brought more military coups, revolts and riots. The geography of iraq iraq, formerly known as mesopotamia from the greek meaning the land between the two rivers, the tigris and the euphrates, shares borders with. The books are arranged in order of date, beginning with the most recent. Top 10 books about the iraq war ranging from forensic intelligence reports to biting reportage and searing fiction and memoir, these books lay. A later upheaval in the history of the region was the assyrian conquest of babylon.
The iraqi democracy and civil rights campaigner says the iraniraq war is one of the single largest unappreciated great events of modern middle eastern history. Leading scholars consider iraqs history and strategic importance from the vantage point of its residents, neighbors iran. Maps over 70 years old only primarily before the independent country was founded in 1932. History of iraq great britain gained control of iraq, previously known as mesopotamia, after the first world war. Thousands of government employees lost their jobs after the old regime crumbled. This civilization came into being between the tigris and euphrates rivers. So often we think of historical fiction as something we as parents didnt live through, but in this case, 1991 may be relevant for us while ancient history for our kids.
All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. This handbook explains a number of ba sic issues that should be in the knowledge toolbox of a marine working with iraqis or deployed to the region. It should be read with the caveat in mind that a legal system as formally described may. This discussion surveys the history of iraq since the 7th century ad. A marines chronicle of the gulf war and other battles 2003 by anthony swofford.
Four years later, the british colonial government helped set up the hashemite monarchy2 in iraq. The best books on the history of iraq recommended by kanan makiya. Nov 18, 2019 the iran iraq war of 1980 to 1988 was a grinding, bloody, and in the end, completely pointless conflict. The modern history of iraq did not commence with the bath regime nor does it end with its demise. What is the political history of iraq from the time period. For over 3000 years the sumerian civilization flourished in the tigriseuphrates river valley. Situating recent events within a longer historical timeframe, this book is a mustread for anyone wanting to understand the deep histories that underpin the. I realized while reading, that while i have read numerous books on aspects covered here, the last survey i read was in my freshman year world history course. The old social classes and the revolutionary movements of iraq. The illustrated encyclopedia of warfare from ancient egypt to. Proper nonfiction history books, not historical fiction, about any period, event, area or topic you like. It is the memoirs of sir john malcolm, a british officer who was among the first diplomats in iran in the early 19th century to sign a treaty of alliance between the then king and george iii. It made me reread all my classics dealing with the history of this part of the world. Because these two rivers flood periodically, leaving behind fertile soil after the waters recede, farmers were.
By then there was already unambiguous evidence indicating the urgency of defusing the imminent danger posed by iraq and its primary allies in the growing terrorist conspiracy. Power in the three provinces 8 the ottoman reconquest of the three provinces sultan abdulhamid ii and the young turks 20 the committee of union and progress and its opponents 24. History map of iraq 3500 bc ancient mesopotamia, sumerian. Pdf a brief history of iraq ebooks includes pdf, epub. The gaps between them have been filled with dictatorship, xenophobia, and fundamental ism. Known as the cradle of civilization, iraq has a rich and complex history. World, history general history, iraq, middle east general, 1921, history publisher westview press. Saudi arabia, iran, and the fortyyear rivalry that unraveled culture, religion, and collective memory in. The conflicts of the last 70 years have a special place in. Brief overview of the history of iraq the land of iraq is often called the cradle of civilization because the oldest civilization in the world, the sumerians, was formed here. Comments off on historical fiction from iraq today i have a book that is historical fiction from iraq.
Borrow a book books on internet archive are offered in many formats, including daisy. A long and costly war followed, ending in 1988 with no clear victor. Readers will learn about iraqs divisive history, the strategic location of baghdad iraqs capital and. The sanctions prohibited iraq from exporting oil until 1996 and iraq s output declined by 85% in the years following the first gulf war. The iraniraq war of 1980 to 1988 was a grinding, bloody, and in the end, completely pointless conflict. Indonesia is a semiannual journal devoted to the timely study of indonesias culture, history, government, economy, and society. People, history, politics provides a comprehensive analysis of the political, societal, and economic dynamics that have governed iraqs modern development. The sumerians invented writing and started the first recorded history. Dawisha traces the history of the iraqi state from its inception in 1921 following the collapse of. Great britain gained control of iraq, previously known as mesopotamia, after the first world war. Iraqs aim was to gain control of the shatt alarab waterway, and perhaps the iranian oil fields as well.
The illustrated encyclopedia of warfare from ancient egypt to iraq the most wideranging and visually arresting history of wars and warfare ever published, war. These days it is quite difficult to get hold of but it is out there. After months of diplomatic efforts through the united nations, including the imposition of economic sanctions on iraq, a 28nation allied force led by the united states attacked iraq on january 16, 1991. The attempt to unravel the mystery of that broader history led naturally to an examination of the languages which were first, to our knowledge, spoken in that land. Definitive visual guide documents every major war or significant period of conflict in over 5,000 years of human history. From revolution to dictatorship, by marion farouksluglett and peter sluglett. Iraqs bloody political history iraq news al jazeera. Map 3 iraq in the middle east xx introduction 1 1 the ottoman provinces of baghdad, basra and mosul 8. Peter sluglett no serious study of the modern history of iraq can be undertaken without a. For the history of the region in the succeeding periods, see iraq, history of. It is from this point in history that we begin our exploration of the development and character of iraqi identity. Iraqi president saddam hussein, who despised the shah, welcomed this change, but his joy turned to alarm when the ayatollah began calling for a shia revolution in iraq to. The us and britain forced iraq to join the antisoviet baghdad pact and sell its oil at giveaway prices to the west, wrote historian and author eric margolis in his book iraqs history is. This is a political as opposed to a social economic history of iraq in the wake of the fall of the monarchy and the overthrow of the old parliamentary system established by the british in the 1920s.
Ottoman rule over iraq lasted until the world war i when the ottomans sided with germany and the central powers. The hashemite kingdom of iraq, also known as mandatory iraq in its early phase, was established by the angloiraqi treaty of 1922. This stone pillar originally stood in the town of babylon. Resisting the simplistic, if fashionable fad of writing history from below, which. Yet as adeed dawisha shows in this superb political history, the story of a fragile and socially fractured iraq did not begin with the americanled invasionit is as old as iraq itself. Running through the heart of the country are two great rivers tigris and euphrates that at one time fed and nourished the beginnings of civilization. In lucid and appealing prose, near eastern historian john robertson traces the complex story of the region now called iraq, from its birth in prehistoric times to its central role today in a serious political and cultural crisis with a global. Top 10 books about the iraq war books the guardian. With british troops currently active in iraq, derek hopwood unravels the two countries shared history, and reflects on other periods when british troops have been on iraqi soil. This article covers the history of mesopotamia from the prehistoric period up to the arab conquest in the 7th century ce.
Abdullahs a short history of iraq is a good overview of iraqs history and a must read for those seeking a general overview of the political and economic development of a nation that has spent its fair share of time in the news in recent years. The best books on iranian history five books expert. Known inhabitants date back to the chalcolithicstone age. In some places in the middle east, secular culture flourishes. His book is wonderfully written and should appeal to both scholars and beginners.
The old social classes and the revolutionary movements of. During the eight years between iraqs formal declaration of war on september 22, 1980, and irans acceptance of a ceasefire with effect on july 20, 1988, at the very least half a million and. If we think there is a fast solution to changing the governance of iraq, warned u. Iraq was conquered and inhabited by numerous empires, including the sumerians, assyrians, babylonian, seleucid and parthian.
The first recorded empire in world history appeared briefly under the fierce sargon and his descendants c. The internet archive offers over 20,000,000 freely downloadable books and texts. Tell me about your next book, the classic sketches of persia by sir john malcolm this book i like a great deal. One of the great virtues of tripps book, by far the best and most serious history of iraq to date, is that it captures so well not simply the consequences of this intricate interrelationship, but also the social and moral worlds in which it exists and thrives.
Now in its third edition, the modern history of iraq places in historical perspective the crises and upheavals that continue to afflict the country. The region of mesopotamia modern iraq produced sumerian, akkadian, babylonyn, assyrian and sassanin empires. This is a political as opposed to a social economic history of iraq in the wake of the fall of the monarchy and the overthrow of the old parliamentary system established by. During ancient times, lands that now constitute iraq were known as mesopotamia. To understand iraq, charles tripps history is the book to read. Marines, who deploy to iraq or are involved with iraqis, need a basic knowledge of the country, its culture, history and present day state of affairs. Iraq 1 iraqi culture, history, and religion iraqi culture, history, and religion culture and peoples cultural and ethnic factors iraq with its population of about 22 million people has been shaped by a number of cultural and ethnic factors.
It was sparked by the iranian revolution, led by ayatollah ruhollah khomeini, which overthrew shah pahlavi in 197879. A history of iraq kindle edition by tripp, charles. Old maps of the iraq region in the middle east of western asia. Indeed, even the conservative estimate of 6o,ooo deaths would make iraq the ninthdeadliest. The writer, as a story teller should keep you interested until the last page. Iraq is the name of the state that currently partially encompasses the territory of the civilization of ancient mesopotamia. We werent expecting to discover a city here at all, said christine kepinski, who explored the site. Roux puts those historical notes of various nations and peoples, into a context, and a chronology. Buy a cheap copy of ancient iraq book by georges roux.
Yet, one of the few american policies to be more or less fully implemented following the 2003 invasion was to debathify the iraqi army and civil service. A history by john robertson is an interesting look at the history of the modern nationstate of iraq, and the people that resided and conquered its geographic dimensions throughout history. I didnt mean this to be a list of pop history, but i think its too late now, so you might as well go ahead. These rivers flow into the persian gulf, through the state of iraq. We cannot guarantee that a brief history of iraq book is in the library, but if you are still not sure with the service, you can choose free trial service. For a discussion of the religions of ancient mesopotamia, see mesopotamian religion. During the 1980s, the united states was intimately involved in supporting saddams iraq in its war against iran. Storm and iraqi freedom have all found a place in comic book literature. Newly revised and containing information from recent excavations and discovered artifacts, ancient iraq covers the political, cultural, and socioeconomic history. Over the past thousand years, kingdoms and empires have come and gone in mesopotamia. British forces regrouped and captured baghdad in 1917.
Iran history, middle eastern history, books barnes. For maps about the history of iraq including independent country, see. The land now known as iraq has been called the cradle of civilization. Two years later, on august 2, 1990, iraq invaded and quickly conquered its small but oilrich neighbor kuwait.
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