Summary

Covering 6,000 years of history—from the ancient Mesopotamian civilizations to the fall of Saddam Hussein and the current war in Iraq—A Brief History of Iraq is a comprehensive look at the changing landscape of this interesting country. Because of its porous frontiers, its accommodating soil and climate, its diverse inhabitants, and its many cultures, Iraq's history over the millennia has been one of interaction, adaptation, acculturation, and modification. Even though a history of Iraq would have to include the rulers and tyrants that have made their mark on the country over the ages, this new volume focuses primarily on the societies, peoples, and cultures of Iraq, as well as the regional influences that helped shape the destiny of the ethnicities, religions, sects, and national groups in this country. These influences have played a major role in shaping the modern nation, and they provide the context needed to understand the current conflict and efforts to build a stable society and government.

Basic facts, a chronology, a bibliography, and a list of suggested reading make up the appendixes in this invaluable book.

Coverage includes:

• Iraq, the first society
• The Persian Empire, Alexander the Great, and the Sassanians
• Iraq under the Umayyad dynasty
• Iraq under the Abbasid dynasty
• The Mongol invasion and early Ottoman rule
• Iraq under the Ottomans
• British occupation and the Iraqi monarchy
• The growth of the republican regimes and the emergence of Baathist Iraq
• The rule of Saddam Hussein and the difficult legacy of the mukhabarat state
• The 2003 Iraq War.

Specifications

Black-and-white photographs and illustrations. Maps. Index. Bibliography. Suggested reading. Chronology. Basic facts. Sidebars.

About the Author(s)

Independent scholar Hala Fattah obtained a Ph.D. in modern Middle Eastern history from the University of California at Los Angeles. She currently teaches world history at the American Community School in Jordan and has lectured at Georgetown University and the University of Jordan. Fluent in Arabic and French, she is a member of the editorial board of International Journal of Middle East Studies and the author of The Politics of Regional Trade in Iraq, Arabia, and the Gulf, 1745–1900. She lives in Amman, Jordan.

Frank Caso is a professional writer and editor. He holds an M.A.L.S. from Wesleyan University. He is the author of Censorship in Facts On File's Global Issues series, and his articles have appeared in History magazine, the Moscow Times, and Contemporary Musicians. He also served for two years as editor of Hog River Journal, an award-winning quarterly regional history magazine. He currently resides in Hartford, Connecticut.