Let’s dive into some fun facts about Iraq, also known as the Republic of Iraq, situated in the Middle East or Southwest Asia. It’s got a little slice of coastline along the Persian Gulf in Umm Qasr.
Call it the Land of 1001 Nights
Iraq’s got this awesome nickname – the Land of 1001 Nights. Back in the day, it used to be called Persia, and this nickname comes from a wild story about King Shahryar, a Persian sultan.
So, the King finds out his wife, Scheherazade, is cheating on him. He’s mad, naturally, and decides to chop off her and her lover’s heads.
But here’s the twist – before the punishment happens, Scheherazade starts telling the King stories every night. These tales became famous as Middle Eastern folktales, like Aladdin, Alibaba, Sinbad the Sailor, and Abu Nawas. The King hears them, changes his mind, and calls off the punishment.
Home to the Oldest Civilization
Way back when, Iraq was known as Mesopotamia, which means “between two rivers” in Greek. This place was like the birthplace of civilization, with the earliest known one being called Sumer. Then came Akkadia, Babylonia, and Assyria.
Iraq is like a treasure trove of history and heritage. It’s got tons of ancient stuff lying around, making it feel like a living history book.
These civilizations have been hanging out in Iraq since around 4800 BC. It’s where humans first got their civilization on. Plus, the place is chock-full of cultural goodies from kingdoms, cities, and empires.
Oil, Oil, and More Oil
Iraq’s got some serious oil game going on, just like other Middle Eastern countries.
With a whopping 145 billion barrels of crude oil, Iraq’s got about 17% of the Middle East’s crude oil reserves and 8% of the world’s. Most of Iraq’s big oil fields are on land and are either pumping oil right now or in the works.
Where Writing Started
Ever heard of Uruk in Iraq? It’s a big deal because it’s where they found some of the earliest writing stuff.
Back in the day, they were carving stuff into stone and building massive structures like Ziggurats – those are like ancient skyscrapers.
And get this – Uruk is where the first-ever cylinder seal was made. These things were like ancient IDs, used by folks in Mesopotamia to mark their stuff or sign documents.
Home of Famous Muslims
Iraq’s been home to loads of famous Muslim folks over the years, which is a big deal in the Islamic world. Most folks here – like around 97% – are into Islam, with a mix of Shia and Sunni Muslims.
Loads of big names in Islamic history come from Iraq, like Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Abu Hanifah, Musa al-Kadhim, Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi, al-Mu’tashim Billah, and Sufyan ats-Tsauri. They’ve left their mark on the world.