Baghdad, Iraq

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq and one of the largest cities in the Middle East.

This city traditionally has been the center of Iraq's manufacturing, trade and culture. Baghdad is located on the Tigris River, about 540 kilometers from the Persian Gulf. It is surrounded by a large and fertile agricultural plain.

Baghdad is divided into two main districts: Karkh (on the west bank of the Tigris River) and Rusafah (on the east bank). Parts of these two areas have narrow streets and animated bazaars (markets). One area of the city where many of the poorer Shi'ite population live is Sadr City.

Baghdad has long been a cultural center. It has three important universities - the University of Baghdad, the al-Hikmah University, and the al-Mustansariyah University. It also has the famous Iraq Museum, which until the looting in 2003 held many sculptures, coins and other objects from Iraq's many thousand years of history.

Until the current war in Iraq (which started in 2003), Baghdad was an important industrial center, with the main activity being petroleum refining, and other activities including cement, cigarette and textile manufacturing, as well as construction and trade enterprises.

People have lived in the Baghdad area since about 4000 BC. This area was once part of ancient Babylonia. In later periods Baghdad was ruled by the Persians, Greeks and Romans.

In 752 AD Abu Jafur al-Mansur established an Arab empire that stretched from north Africa to western China and by 800 Baghdad became a world center for education and culture.

In 1258 Baghdad was invaded and almost destroyed by the Mongols. In 1638 the city became part of the Ottoman Empire.

During World War I Baghdad and Iraq were occupied by the British. In 1932 Iraq became an independent nation (with Baghdad as its capital).

Baghdad was heavily bombed during the Gulf War of 1991 and suffered further, massive damage in the current war in Iraq that began in 2003.