Iraq: The Rise of the World’s First Cities

Sleepy History

This episode traces the long and turbulent history of Iraq, beginning with its origins in ancient Mesopotamia. It follows the region through

Key takeaways

• Mesopotamia served as the 'cradle of civilization,' introducing written language and advanced irrigation.
• The Abbasid Caliphate established Baghdad as a global center for science and culture via the House of Wisdom.

Main topics

• Ancient Mesopotamia
• Islamic Golden Age

Notable quotes

It's said that so many books were thrown in the Tigris, the river ran black with ink.

Conclusion

The episode highlights how Iraq's history is defined by cycles of imme

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:00) This is Sleepy History. Sleepy History is a production of Slumber Studios. To listen ad-free and support the show, check out our premium feed. In recent years, Iraq has often been in the headlines. There's been a long period of instability and conflict involving the military intervention of the United States and the rise of Islamic State. But to understand recent events and to gain a deeper insight into the country itself, it's helpful to go back to the beginning. What are the origins of Iraq? And how has it evolved over the centuries, becoming the complex nation we know today? From Islamic culture to international conflicts, we'll be looking at some of the defining factors in Iraq's long history. Speaker 1 (1:09) So just relax and let your mind drift as we explore the sleepy history of Iraq. Long before Iraq existed, this region formed the heartland of ancient Mesopotamia. Because of its sophisticated culture and relatively advanced knowledge in many fields, Mesopotamia is often referred to as the cradle of civilization. Speaker 1 (1:52) from written language to astronomy. The people who lived here were ahead of their time. Mesopotamian civilization began around 4000 BCE and had declined by the first century. While we don't have time to explore Mesopotamia in detail tonight, it's worth keeping this in mind as we begin our story. This part of the world has an incredibly rich and ancient heritage. Speaker 1 (2:26) And when Iraq was founded, so to speak, there was a pre-existing foundation. Over thousands of years, the people of Mesopotamia had developed a culture and infrastructure that would leave a lasting legacy. To give just one example, they built an impressive system of irrigation and canals in the south. Speaker 1 (2:55) This remained in use for hundreds of years after the end of the Mesopotamian civilization. In other words, Iraq wasn't built out of nothing. So, where to begin? At what point did this region become Iraq rather than Mesopotamia? The name Iraq predates the country itself. By the 7th century, the name was being used to refer to the land. Speaker 1 (3:32) While the etymology is uncertain, it may derive from the Sumerian city of Uruk, or perhaps from the Middle Persian word, Erak, meaning lowlands. In the 7th century, this part of the world belonged to Persia. It was a province of the vast Sassanian Empire. But recently, another major power had emerged in the region, the Rashidun Caliphate. Speaker 1 (4:05) After the death of the prophet Muhammad in 632, the newly formed Muslim community was led by a succession of caliphs or religious leaders. They came to be known as the Rashidun Caliphate, and they soon became a significant military and political force, conquering huge chunks of territory. By 638, this included Mesopotamia. Speaker 1 (4:37) Arab Muslim forces had led a series of invasions over several years and eventually succeeded in taking control of Mesopotamia. In the years to come, they would also conquer most of the Sasanian Empire and much of the Byzantine Empire. After the Arab Muslim conquest, Mesopotamia became a province of the Muslim Caliphate. This change would transform the region. Speaker 1 (5:14) At the time of the conquest, Iraq, as we'll be calling it from now, was a huge and culturally diverse land. The people living here included Aramaic-speaking communities, Persians, Arabs, Kurds, and Greeks. There were Christians, Jews, Mandaeans, and Zoroastrians. But from the 7th century onward, Iraq was officially under Muslim rule. Speaker 1 (5:50) There was a period of mass immigration following the Arab conquest, which led to Iraq becoming one of the most populous regions in the Islamic world. It was also the wealthiest area within the caliphate. This helps to explain how Iraq developed, in terms of its religious and cultural identity. Right from the beginning, it was at the heart of the Islamic world. Speaker 1 (6:24) That being said, to begin with, despite their influence, Muslims were still a minority in Iraq. It would take a few hundred years before they became the majority. Not long after their arrival, the Arab Muslim settlers established two garrison cities, Kufa and Basra. The city of Mosul, which already had a long and ancient history, also began to grow in importance. Speaker 1 (7:03) The Rashidun Caliphate was followed by the Umayyad Caliphate, who continued to rule over Iraq while conquering even more territory. At one point, the Umayyads became one of the largest empires in history. Their capital was in Damascus, in Syria. But in the mid-8th century, there was a revolution led by the Abbasid dynasty. Speaker 1 (7:35) The Ambassids overthrew the Umayyads. They established a new caliphate. And in 762, they also decided to create a new capital city, Baghdad. The city would be conveniently located on the Tigris River and close to the Euphrates. It would have access to important trade routes to Persia, Central Asia, and the Persian Gulf. Now, it's worth noting that the area was already inhabited, that the name Baghdad already existed. It may have come from Middle Persian, meaning God-given. However, it's fair to say it was the Abbasids who founded Baghdad as the city it would become. Speaker 1 (8:39) Having chosen a strategic location for the capital, the Abbasid Caliph al-Mansur then went about carefully designing the city. The core of Baghdad was the famous Round City, a circular layout featuring concentric walls. It would be a city of parks, promenades, and hammams, a place that was both beautiful and practical. Speaker 1 (9:13) Al-Mansur even hired astrologers to make sure the city's foundation was auspicious. He chose a date under the sign of Leo, representing power and expansion. At the center of Baghdad were the palace, mosque, and government buildings. Markets and residential buildings were located further out, and suburbs began to spring up as the city expanded. Speaker 1 (9:49) By the early 9th century, there may have been as many as half a million people living in Baghdad. As well as being the center of the Islamic world, Baghdad was also at the heart of education, learning, and Islamic culture. Perhaps you've heard of the Islamic Golden Age. Speaker 1 (10:19) This era of cultural flourishing began in the 8th century, and Baghdad was one of the key locations. At the time, it was one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world. It was also home to the House of Wisdom, an important library and intellectual center. Speaker 1 (10:46) From across the Muslim world, scholars came to Baghdad to