Fun Facts About Iraq - Home of Ancient Civilizations

History

Did you know...Present-day Iraq was home of the ancient Mesopotamian civilization, which had been located in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley.

Democracy

Did you Know...After several decades of tyrannical rule, Iraq has made substantial progress in political reforms. In the key October 2005 referendum, a new constitution was adopted -- the first democratic constitution in 73 years -- and a new Parliament (a 275-member Council of Representatives) was chosen in elections. Meanwhile, Ibrahim al-Jaafari assumed power in the country. He was the country's first pro-democratic leader to take up the post of Head of Government; then al-Jaafari was succeeded by Nuri al-Maliki. The new government has been recognized by several nations of the world. The country was one of the world's worst dictatorships from 1979 until 2003 when Saddam Hussein was overthrown.

Geography

Did you know...The Arab country is the 65th largest nation on Earth, ahead of Japan, Germany and Norway. It -- 168,754 square miles-- is about the size of California.

Olympic Games

Did you know... Six athletes competed for Iraq, a war-torn country since 1990, at the Summer Olympic Games in the People's Republic of China. During that time, the Iraqi Olympic Committee had their hopes pinned on Ali Adnan, an archer. Before the 2008 Olympics, Adnan had trained in the Republic of Korea, the world's Olympic archery superpower.

Economics

Did you know... . In the 1950s, Iraq had a relatively high GDP per capita in comparison to most Asian nations, including South Korea, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

The Mother Teresa of Iraq

Did you know...The country's idol Madeeha Hasan Odhaib, a former seamstress, was named one of "Time" magazine's 2008 100 Most Influential People in the world.In the last years, she backed up a host of women and children in the Arab nation. "Iraq is suffering one of the worst humanitarian crises we have ever seen. While Madeeha rightly makes Time's list, women like her are found throughout Iraq, sewing hope one stitch at a time. Through Madeeha we celebrate all of Iraq's courageous women, whose resilience and resourcefulness hold the promise of a new dawn", said Rania, Queen of Jordan, of Madeeha.

Universal Wonders

Did you know...The California-size land boasts three UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

- Hatra
- Ashur
- Samarra Archaeological City

Soccer

Did you know...In 2004, the national team finished fourth in the Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, behind Argentina, Paraguay and Italy and ahead of South Korea and Australia. Exactly three years on, the Iraqi men's soccer national squad won the Asian Cup in 2007 (the winners of the regional tournament are often seen like the favorites to qualify for the FIFA World Cup). The award had been a long time in coming. In a country that's sometimes been unfairly viewed as one of the world's worst Olympic nations, this victory became an example for many impoverished countries in the Third World. Since then, Iraq's victory set off a wave of euphoria across Baghdad and Arbil, as well as Mosul and other Iraqi metropolises. The war-torn country of Iraq had never won an international tournament of such standing before.

Ancient Wonders

Did you know...Modern-day Iraq was the site of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. These gardens were built by King Nebuchadnezzar II about 600 BC. Like the Colossus of Rhodes and the Statue of Zeus at Olympia, the gardens were destroyed by time.

International Organizations

Did you know...The country of Iraq is a full member of the United Nations as well as the League of Arab States and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (also known as OPEC ). On December 21, 1945, the Arab nation was endorsed by the UN. In the early 1980s, Iraq's ambassador Ismat Kittani became President of the Assembly of the United Nations in New York City, NY.

Independence

Did you know...The gradual introduction of reforms in the 1920s led to independence from Britain in the early 1930s, following the World War II , and Iraq became a modern monarchy.

Iraq in Miss Universe

Did you know...Inspired by Georgina Rizk's victory in Miss Universe 1971, the Arab nation sent a contestant to the Miss Universe Pageant in San Juan de Puerto Rico in July 1972. Miss Iraq Universe, Wijdan Burham El-Deen Sulyman , arrived on Puerto Rico to an enthusiastic welcome, but she was eliminated in the first round. No other Iraqi woman had ever participated in it before.

Authors

Did you know...Feisal II, former King of Iraq, published "How To Defend Yourself ", a book on judo.

National Icons

Did you know... After winning the 2007 Asian Cup and other awards, Younes Mahmoud became the toast of his homeland. In Italy, in November 2007, Iraq's soccer player Younes Mahmoud won the "Facchetti Award", a prize in memory of Giacinto Facchetti, one of Europe's most popular soccer players in the past century. Facchetti's son Gianfelice has said of Younes: "I thought of Younes, because he, like my father, has left a beautiful legacy. He has given his fellow-countrymen hope and optimism with the goal which enabled Iraq to win the Asian Cup in the final against Saudi Arabia. He is the athlete who triggered the first real celebration in his country after years of horror. He has proved that the will of man is stronger than a war which started with a lie and which has never been explained".

Iraq's Capital

Did you know...Baghdad is one of the oldest metropolises in the world. Apart from that, from 1932 to 1955, it was one of Arab's most important cities, along with Cairo, Alexandria, Casablanca, Tehran and Karachi.

History

Did you know...Between 1932 and 1947, despite being made up of more than 10 ethnic groups, Iraq was one of the most stable and peaceful nations in the Middle East. During that time, it had not had wars, conflicts, coup d' etats, Marxist revolutions, and terrorism. The Asian nation had been put on the tourism map: it was well-known for its historical buildings, archaeological sites and Arab markets, as well as exotic dancers and friendly people.

Famous Women

Did you know... The California-size land is home to a number of notable women: Sabiha Al-Dabbagh, doctor; Sabiha Al-Khated, feminist; Intisar Shaker,athlete; Take Zaha Hadid, achitect; Queen Aliyah; Nzik Al-Mala Ikah, author; Suad Abdallah, performer; Hanaa Busha, feminist.

Ancient Empires

Did you know...Modern-Iraq was part of the Ottoman Empire.

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: Freelance writer. Alejandro is of Italian, African and Peruvian ancestry. He has published more than seventy-five research paper in English, and more than twenty in Spanish, concerning the world issues, olympic sports, countries, and tourism. His next essay is called "The Dictator and Alicia Alonso". He is an expert on foreign affairs. Alejandro is the first author who has published a world-book encyclopedia in Latin America.
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