Changes

In the 7th Century AD Mesopotamia was incorporated into the vast Muslim Arab empire that covered most of the middle east, north Africa and Spain. In the 8th century the capital of this empire was moved to Baghdad which at a time when Europe was in the dark ages became the greatest centre for science and art since the time of the ancient Greeks. It was here that Astronomy and Algebra (both Arab words) were studied and advanced, and many familiar stories were first told like those of Sinbad the Sailor, Ali Baba and the forty thieves and the thousand and one Arabian nights. By the twelve century this great empire was in serious decline under pressure from Christian Europe, breakaway Muslim states in north Africa, the Mongols in the east and most of all from it's own rebellious mercenary soldiers - the Mamalukes and the Turks. Following the assasination of the last caliph of Baghdad by the Mongols in 1258 there were nearly four centuries of conquest and chaos as Mesopotamia was invaded by Selecids, Turks, Ottomans, Mongols (under Khengis Khan), Turkomen, Tartars and Kurds.

In the 7th Century AD Mesopotamia was incorporated into the vast Muslim Arab empire that covered most of the middle east, north Africa and Spain. In the 8th century the capital of this empire was moved to Baghdad which at a time when Europe was in the dark ages became the greatest centre for science and art since the time of the ancient Greeks. It was here that Astronomy and Algebra (both Arab words) were studied and advanced, and many familiar stories were first told like those of Sinbad the Sailor, Ali Baba and the forty thieves and the thousand and one Arabian nights. By the twelve century this great empire was in serious decline under pressure from Christian Europe, breakaway Muslim states in north Africa, the Mongols in the east and most of all from it's own rebellious mercenary soldiers - the Mamalukes and the Turks. Following the assasination of the last caliph of Baghdad by the Mongols in 1258 there were nearly four centuries of conquest and chaos as Mesopotamia was invaded by Selecids, Turks, Ottomans, Mongols (under Khengis Khan), Turkomen, Tartars and Kurds.

In the 16th Century Mesopotamia became part of the Ottoman Turkish Empire.  

In the 16th Century Mesopotamia became part of the Ottoman Turkish Empire.  

In the early 20th Century Arab nationalists including Iraqis began rebelling against their Turkish rulers. With the outbreak of the First World War they fought alongside the Allies against the Turks in the hope of gaining their independence. Many Iraqis supported Britains invasion and occupation of Iraq in 1917 as it ended of Turkish rule, however the western Allies had secretly agreed that France and Britain would control the arab lands and Iraq came under the British mandate. When Iraqi tribesmen rebelled against British rule, the rebellion was put down using aerial bombardment - the first time air power had been used in sush a way. In 1932 Iraq was granted independence although Britain still excercised considerable control over the country and had retained Kuwait fot its oil.

In the early 20th Century Arab nationalists including Iraqis began rebelling against their Turkish rulers. With the outbreak of the First World War they fought alongside the Allies against the Turks in the hope of gaining their independence. Many Iraqis supported Britains invasion and occupation of Iraq in 1917 as it ended Turkish rule, however the western Allies had secretly agreed that France and Britain would control the Arab lands and Iraq came under the British mandate. When Iraqi tribesmen rebelled against British rule, the rebellion was put down using aerial bombardment - the first time air power had been used in such a way. In 1932 Iraq was granted independence although Britain still excercised considerable control over the country and had retained Kuwait fot its oil.

[[Category:Countries]]

[[Category:Countries]]

{{stub}}

{{stub}}