Countries Of The World: Iraq

Image 1. A landscape in Iraq. Mesopotamia was a historical region that existed where Iraq is now. This area is often called “the

cradle of civilization” because it is where one of the first human civilizations was born. Photo by: Getty Images/Zaid Albassri/

EyeEm.

Iraq is dominated by two famous rivers: the Tigris and the Euphrates. They flow southeast from

the highlands in the north across the plains toward the Persian Gulf. The fertile region between

these rivers has had many names throughout history, including Al-Jazirah, or "the island," in

Arabic and Mesopotamia in Greek.

Many parts of Iraq are harsh places to live. Rocky deserts cover about 40 percent of the land.

Another 30 percent is mountainous with bitterly cold winters. Much of the south is marshy and

damp. Most Iraqis live along the fertile plains of the Tigris and Euphrates.

By National Geographic Kids, adapted by Newsela staff on 01.30.18

Word Count 724

Level MAX

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 1

People And Culture

Iraq is one of the most culturally diverse nations in the Middle East. Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen,

Assyrians, Mandaeans and Armenians, among others, speak their own languages and retain

their cultural and religious identities.

Iraqis once had some of the best schools and colleges in the Arab world. That changed after the

Gulf War in 1991 and the United Nations sanctions that followed. A sanction is a penalty that the

U.N. imposes if a country does not follow certain international rules. Sanctions often come in the

form of bans on trade.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 2

Nature

Safeguarding Iraq's wildlife is a big job. There are essentially no protected natural areas in the

country. A long war was waged in Iraq in the early 2000s. After it ended, civil war broke out in the

country. During these conflicts, the government of Iraq has been more concerned with protecting

people and property than plants and animals.

The United States invaded Iraq in 2003 in an effort to overthrow the government. Before the

invasion, several species were considered at risk, including cheetahs, wild goats and dugongs.

Scientists have not been able to assess the condition of these animals since then.

Iraq's rivers and marshes are home to many fish, including carp that can grow up to 300 pounds

and sharks that swim up from the Persian Gulf.

Government And Economy

In January 2005, Iraqis voted in the country's first democratic elections in more than 50 years. It

took another three months for a government to take office, but Iraq's new democracy was set up

to ensure all ethnic groups are represented.

Iraq has the world's fifth-largest supply of oil. But international sanctions during the 1990s and the

instability caused by war have left Iraq in poverty.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 3

History

Iraq's history is full of unsettling changes. In the past 20 years alone, it has witnessed two major

wars, international sanctions, occupation by a foreign government, revolts and terrorism. But Iraq

is a land where several ancient cultures left stamps of greatness on the country, the region and

the world.

Iraq is nicknamed the "cradle of civilization." Thousands of years ago, on the plains that make up

about a third of Iraq, powerful empires rose and fell while people in Europe and the Americas

were still hunting and gathering.

The Sumerians had the first civilization in Iraq, around 3000 B.C. The first type of writing, called

cuneiform, came out of Uruk, a Sumerian city-state. Around 2000 B.C., the Babylonians came to

power in southern Mesopotamia. Their king, Hammurabi, established the first known system of

laws.

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Babylonian rule ended in 539 B.C. when the Persians took over. In A.D. 646, Arabs overthrew the

Persians and introduced Islam to Iraq. Baghdad was soon established as the leading city of the

Islamic world. In 1534, the Ottomans from Turkey conquered Iraq and ruled until the British took

over almost 400 years later.

Iraq became an independent country in 1932, although the British still had a big influence. In

1979, Saddam Hussein and his Baath Party took control of Iraq and promoted the idea that it

should be ruled by Arabs. Hussein ruled as a ruthless dictator. In 1980, he started a long war with

the neighboring country of Iran. In 1991, he invaded Kuwait, triggering the first Gulf War.

In 2003, after years of sanctions against Iraq, the United States invaded again out of concern that

Saddam Hussein was making dangerous weapons. U.S. military forces quickly reached Baghdad

and threw the Baathists from power. Saddam Hussein was captured, tried for crimes against

humanity and executed.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 5

Quiz

1 Which sentence from the article shows Iraq’s MAIN problem?

(A) Before the invasion, several species were considered at risk, including cheetahs,

wild goats and dugongs.

(B) It took another three months for a government to take office, but Iraq's new

democracy was set up to ensure all ethnic groups are represented.

(C) But international sanctions during the 1990s and the instability caused by war

have left Iraq in poverty.

(D) Saddam Hussein was captured, tried for crimes against humanity and executed.

2 Read the paragraph from the section "People And Culture."

Iraqis once had some of the best schools and colleges in the Arab world.That changed after the Gulf War in 1991, and the United Nationssanctions that followed. A sanction is a penalty that the U.N. imposes if acountry does not follow certain international rules. Sanctions often comein the form of bans on trade.

What conclusion is BEST supported by the paragraph above?

(A) Iraq has some of the best schools in the Arab world in spite of many wars and

U.N. sanctions.

(B) Iraq does not have the best schools in the Arab world because they no longer

have sanctions.

(C) Iraq now has some of the best schools in the Arab world since the Gulf War and

U.N. sanctions.

(D) Iraq no longer has some of the best schools in the Arab world because of wars

and sanctions.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 6

3 Which selection from the article is BEST illustrated by Image 1?

(A) Iraq is dominated by two famous rivers: the Tigris and the Euphrates. They flow

southeast from the highlands in the north across the plains toward the Persian

Gulf.

(B) The fertile region between these rivers has had many names throughout history,

including Al-Jazirah, or "the island," in Arabic and Mesopotamia in Greek.

(C) Many parts of Iraq are harsh places to live. Rocky deserts cover about 40 percent

of the land. Another 30 percent is mountainous with bitterly cold winters.

(D) Iraq's rivers and marshes are home to many fish, including carp that can grow up

to 300 pounds and sharks that swim up from the Persian Gulf.

4 Examine Image 2 and read the selection below.

The Sumerians had the first civilization in Iraq, around 3000 B.C. The firsttype of writing, called cuneiform, came out of Uruk, a Sumerian city-state.Around 2000 B.C., the Babylonians came to power in southernMesopotamia. Their king, Hammurabi, established the first known systemof laws.

How does the image support the information in the selection above?

(A) It shows how the Sumerians created a language that is still widely used today.

(B) It shows how the Babylonians used cuneiform to make the first system of laws.

(C) It gives more information about the writing system that the Sumerians created.

(D) It shows how cuneiform helped the Babylonians come into power in 2000 B.C.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 7