Sleepy History - Iraq: The Rise of the World’s First Cities

Episode Date: September 27, 2026

✨Sleepy History is written and narrated by humans. ✨ Narrated By: Simon Mattacks Written By: Alexandra Turney In tonight's episode, discover how the nation of Iraq developed, from its roots in ancient Mesopotamia, through conflicts and power struggles, all the way to the present day. Includes mentions of: Politics, Military History, War, The Bubonic Plague #History #Sleep #Iraq #War #Military About Sleepy History Explore history's most intriguing stories, people, places, events, and mysteries, delivered in a supremely calming atmosphere. If you struggle to fall asleep and you have a curious mind, Sleepy History is the perfect bedtime companion. Our stories will gently grasp your attention, pulling your mind away from any racing thoughts, making room for the soothing music and calming narration to guide you into a peaceful sleep. Want to enjoy Sleepy History ad-free? Start your 7-day free trial of Sleepy History Premium: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sleepyhistory.supercast.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Have feedback or an episode request? Let us know at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠slumberstudios.com/contact⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sleepy History is a production of Slumber Studios. To learn more, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.slumberstudios.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. 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, from written language to astronomy. The people who lived here were ahead of their time. Mesopotamian civilization began around 4,000 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. 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. This remained in use for how. 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. While the etymology is uncertain, it may derive from the Sumerian city of Aruc, 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 Susanian Empire.

But recently, another major power had emerged in the region, the Rashidon, and the Roshidon Caliphate. 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 Rashidan Caliphate, and they soon became a significant military and political force, conquering huge chunks of territory. By 638, this included Mesopotamia. 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 Sassanian Empire and much of the Byzantine Empire. After the Arab Muslim conquest, Mesopotamia became a province of the Muslim Caliphate.

Clearly, this change would transform the region. At the time of the conquest, Iraq, as we'll be calling it from now on, was a huge and culturally diverse land. The people living here included Aramaic-speaking communities, Persians, Arabs, Kurds, and Greeks. There were Christians, Jews, Mandayans, and Zoroastrians. And from the 7th century onward, Iraq was officially under Muslim rule. 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. That being said, to begin with, despite their influence, Muslims were still a minority in a... 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. The Rashidan 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-eighth century, there was a revolution led by the Ambassad dynasty. The Ambassids overthrew the Amayats. 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 and 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 above, who founded Baghdad as the city it would become. Having chosen a strategic location for the capital, the Abbasid Caliph, Almansoor, 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 Hamams, a place that was both beautiful and practical.

Almansoor even hired astrologers to make sure the city's foundation was auspicious. They 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. 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. 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. From across the Muslim world, scholars came to Baghdad to study and study,

and translate texts on mathematics, philosophy, medicine, astronomy, and much more. The Abbasid caliphs helped to create an academic culture, investing heavily in scholarship and translation. The Quran itself also places emphasis on the importance of learning. This would have influenced many Muslim scholars in their quest for knowledge. Some of the key figures of the Islamic Golden Age lived and worked in Baghdad. For instance, the Persian mathematician and astronomer Al-Hwarismi worked at the House of Wisdom. Al-Kindy, who sometimes called the father of Arab philosophy, was also associated with the House of Wisdom. He spent most of his life in Baghdad.

Interestingly, the city also features in one of the great works of Arabic literature, the 1001 Knights. Many of the tales are set in Baghdad around this time. Now, you might be wondering, what about the rest of Iraq? In the 9th century, the Abbasid caliphate was in a period of decline. Many parts of Iraq were taken over by Persian dynast. Over the years, the region faced numerous problems, including revolts, power struggles, and economic and agricultural crises.

Even though the Abbasids were nominally in control, the reality was rather more complex. By the 11th century, the Seljuk Turks had risen to power in the region. even managed to capture Baghdad. Still, despite some instability, Baghdad remained one of the great cities of the Islamic world until 1258, and an event that would change everything. If you know anything about history in this part of the world, you might be able to guess what or rather who is coming next. Yes, it's the Mongols. Over the past century, under rulers such as Genghis Khan, the Mongol Empire had taken over much of Asia.

The Mongol army was huge, a formidable force. By the mid-13th century, the campaign was being led by Genghis Khan's grandson, Hulegu. And the Mongols hadn't lost their appetite, a territorial expansion. In 1258, they launched a brutal attack on Baghdad. The city fell within just a few weeks, and the scale of the damage was remarkable. There were days of looting and pillaging. And while the exact death toll is unknown, estimates range into the hundreds of thousands. One of the victims was the caliph, Al-Mustasim.

According to some accounts, he was wrapped up. in a carpet and trampled by horses. Apparently, the Mongols didn't want to spill royal blood on the earth. Alam Asthim's death effectively marked the end of the Abbasid dynasty. And there were other losses too. The House of Wisdom was destroyed, along with countless books. It said that so many books were thrown in the Tigris, the river ran black with ink. For some historians, The Mongol invasion of Baghdad also marks the end of the Islamic golden age. As a center of culture and learning, the city's glory days were over. Before we continue, let's pause to consider something.

To keep things simple, we've been referring to this land as Iraq. However, it's worth remembering that names and borders have shifted over the years. For centuries, there were technically two Iraqs. Arabian Iraq corresponded, more or less, with the ancient region of Mesopotamia and modern-day Iraq. To the east lay the other Iraq, the foreign or Persian Iraq, in what is now Iran. In fact, the modern-day boundaries of Iraq weren't created until the 20th century. It only became an independent nation in 1932.

So while there have been some strands of continuity over the centuries, let's keep this in mind. Iraq is both ancient and, in a sense, relatively modern. It's undergone so many changes that it's hard to pin down. Now, back to our story. After the Mongols took Baghdad, Iraq became part of the Ilkhanate. The Ilkhanate was a huge Mongol state that also included modern-day Iran and parts of many other countries.

Under the Mongols, Baghdad lost its importance. It went from the center of the Islamic world to a much less influential regional capital. But there was worse to come, a force even more destructive than the Mongols. In the mid-14th century, the black black. death swept across Europe and the Middle East, where it killed up to a third of the population. Some historians believe that the plague also contributed to the end of the Ilkarnate. Iraq was then ruled by another Mongol dynasty, the Jalairids, until the arrival of Timor. Timor was a Turko-Mongol conqueror, notorious for his military prowess, and

his brutality. He founded the Timurid Empire, which included modern-day Iran and Afghanistan. In 1401, he invaded Iraq, where he carried out numerous massacres. His victims included the residents of Baghdad and Assyrian Christians. In 1405, to the relief of many, no doubt, Timor died. Over the next hundred years or so, there were power struggles, revolts and disputes across the country. Power changed hands frequently. Then, in the early 16th century, Iraq was taken over by the Persians, becoming part of the Safavid Empire. But a more significant and lasting change would take place in 1534, when Iranians. The Ark came under the control of the Ottoman Empire.

The Ottoman Empire was a powerful state, based in modern-day Turkey. By the 16th century, the empire had expanded significantly. It covered more than one million square miles of territory, including parts of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. By the 1530s, the Ottoman ruler, Suleiman the Magnificent, also had his eye on Iraq. At the time, it was controlled by the Ottoman's rivals, the Persian Safavid Empire. From the Ottoman's perspective, Iraq was very useful. Ruling over the region would also allow them to control key trade routes along the Tigris

and Euphrates rivers. Additionally, if it was under Ottoman control, Iraq could serve as a kind of geographical shield. It would provide a buffer zone between Ottoman territory and Persia. As these two empires battled for power and territory, the Ottoman army advanced into Iraq, making alliances with local powers and gradually taking control. In 1534, the Ottomans captured Baghdad without resistance, and then took control of Mosul. Iraq was now Ottoman territory. To understand how this happened, there are a couple of factors to consider. At the time, the Ottomans arguably had the upper hand in terms of military power. Additionally, many of the people living in Iraq had no particular loyalty to the Safavids. Some welcomed.

the Ottomans and agreed with their religious views. In Islam there are two main denominations, Sunni and Shia. While Sunni and Shia Muslims share many of the same core beliefs, there are also some significant differences. This has often led to tension between the two groups. In the 16th century, Shia Islam became the state religion of the Safavid Empire. The Ottomans, on the other hand, were Sunnis. So, when Iraq became part of the Ottoman Empire, this also had religious consequences. While both Shia and Sunni communities continued to live there, Iraq was now ruled by a Sunni empire. A few interruptions aside, the U.S.

The Ottomans would rule over Iraq for the best part of 400 years, from 1534 to 1920. Even though in practical terms, parts of Iraq remained largely autonomous, the Ottomans undoubtedly helped to shape the country's culture. Over the years, the Ottomans would also help to organize and unify Iraq. By the 19th century, Ottoman reforms and and administrative changes had led to a fundamental shift. Increasingly, Iraq came to be seen as a single region. Over the centuries, the Ottomans mostly managed to maintain control of Iraq. However, the Safavids still thought it should belong to them.

In 1624, they captured Baghdad, which remained under Safavid control until the Ottomans got it back in 1638. There were frequent clashes between the Ottomans and the Safavids in an ongoing power struggle that included Iraq, but which also extended far beyond. At certain points, other groups also managed to take control. From 1704 to 1831, much of Iraq was governed by the Mamlux, a dynasty founded by former slave soldiers.

Important developments took place during this time. For instance, under the rule of the last Mamluk ruler, Dalwood Pasha, there were modernization programs and army reforms. In 1831, the Ottomans rested back control of Iraq and began to centralize authority in Baghdad. Over the following decades, there was a focus on modernization, centralization, and improvements in industry and infrastructure. It was also a period of economic growth and international trade. Iraq, like so many other parts of the world at this time, was entering a new era.

And then came World War I. Given how much happened during this conflict and how many different nations were involved, it's easy to overlook the impact on Iraq. At the beginning of the war in 1914, Iraq was still part of the Ottoman Empire. By the end, it was ruled over by the British. In order to understand how this happened, we need to rewind a little and take a look at what Britain was up to in the Middle East. A few years before the First World War,

there had been major oil discoveries in Iran. The Anglo-Persian oil company was formed, and Britain became keen to protect their interests in the region. Valuable oil fields were located in Kuzestan province, right on the border between Iran and Iraq. There was also concern about Germany, German influence in the region after a controversial project to build a railway connecting Berlin and Baghdad. In part, this explains how tension escalated.

During the four-year Mesopotamian campaign, troops from the British Empire clashed with the Ottomans, leading to huge losses on both sides. In cities across Iraq, the situation for civilians was also desperate, with many people dying from famine or disease. The conflict ended in 1918 with a British victory, just as the First World War also came to an end. The Ottoman Empire, now on the verge of collapse, no longer ruled over Iraq. In a somewhat unexpected turn of events, the British were now in control. The following years were turbulent. In 1920, people across Iraq united, in spite of their different backgrounds and beliefs,

to revolt against British rule. Many Iraqis resented the new British administration, and certain policies, such as land ownership laws, proved unpopular. The fact that Shia and Sunni Muslims joined forces. despite long-standing differences, demonstrates the strength of feeling. While the British ultimately managed to suppress the rebellion, it was a hugely expensive and hard-won victory. They would have to rethink their strategy.

In 1921, the Kingdom of Iraq was established under a British mandate. The new kingdom had its own monarch, a king, carefully chosen by the British. Faisal the first was considered to be a safe choice. Someone who had the right credentials in the eyes of Iraqis, but who could still be influenced. Faisal wasn't from Iraq. He was born in Mecca, grew up in Constantinople,

and was briefly the king of Syria, until the French kicked him out and forced him into exile. As king of Iraq, however, he had a longer and somewhat more successful reign. Around this time, the country officially became known as Iraq in English, rather than the Greek name Mesopotamia. While this might be seen as a sign of respect, an acknowledgement of the country's Arab identity, the situation was complicated, to say the least. To this day, historians disagree about the nature of Britain's involvement in Iraq. Were the British modernisers or colonizers? Both, perhaps.

Either way, the British eventually decided that they wanted out. Governing Iraq was challenging, especially with growing nationalism. Perhaps the best solution was a middle ground. So, in 1930, the Anglo-Iraqi treaty was signed. This paved the way for Iraq to become an independent country, while still allowing Britain to maintain a military presence. Two years later, in 1932, Iraq officially became a fully independent country. independent kingdom, a milestone in the nation's history.

Unfortunately, however, the situation remained unsettled. Many were unhappy with the leadership, and there was a series of revolts, military coups, and protests. During the Second World War, a coup d'état resulted in the brief installation of a nationalist government. In their attempts to counter British influence, the Iraq Iraqi government got support from Nazi Germany and fascist Italy. But ultimately their plan backfired, as Britain invaded Iraq and occupied the country for the next few years.

In 1958, a major coup changed history. During the 14th of July revolution, Iraqi officers overthrew the monarchy. In the aftermath, Iraq became a republic. The new prime minister, Abdul Karim Karsim, promoted the idea of civic nationalism. Iraq was a nation, and its people were united by a shared identity, which could be traced back to ancient Mesopotamia. Qasim soon faced challenges, including revolts led by Kurdish groups. and it wasn't long before others were plotting against him.

In 1963, there was another coup, the Ramadan revolution. The Prime Minister was overthrown by the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party. Some believe that the Baathists were supported by the CIA, though to what extent is still debated. Regardless, the US government likely well, welcomed Karsim's removal. He was seen as having communist sympathies and had made some controversial moves in terms of foreign policy. During the revolution, Karsim was executed. The following years saw another series of coups until the Ba'ath Party officially seized power in 1968 during the 17th of July Revolution.

One of the men involved in the coup is a name that will like to be a name that will like to be able to be in the last. be familiar. He was the future president of Iraq, Saddam Hussein. Before we begin the next chapter of our history, let's pause and reflect. From what we've looked at so far, perhaps we can see the roots of more recent issues in Iraq. We've seen how turbulent things were in the first half of the 20th century, with different groups fighting for power and frequent changes. changes in leadership. What's also interesting is that long after the end of Ottoman rule and Iraq being established as an independent country, foreign intervention continued.

Of course, this is a theme in modern history, something we'll be exploring shortly. In the 1970s, Saddam Hussein became increasingly influential as a political figure. By 1979, He was the president of Iraq. He would rule for the next two decades. To this day, Saddam remains a divisive figure, not just internationally, but within Iraq itself. It might be argued that there were some positive developments during his rule. There was a period of economic growth

and improvements in health, education and infrastructure. In the Arab world, some still see Saddam as a strong leader, who was willing to stand up to the West. It's likely that many more, however, view him as a tyrant. Under his rule, Iraq became involved in devastating wars, such as the conflict with Iran in the 1980s and the Gulf War in 1990. Both were initiated by Iraqi invasions. Additionally, there's no denying that Saddam's regime was extremely repressive. It's estimated that hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians were killed or became victims of forced disappearances. One of the worst atrocities was the Anfal campaign in 1988, which targeted the Kurdish community.

It was a genocide, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of Kurds. Saddam's government created a climate of fear. While Iraq experienced a period of relative internal stability, it came at an enormous cost. In the international community, many were highly critical of the Iraqi government. A major cause for concern was Iraq's use of Iraq's use of chemical weapons during the war with Iran in the 1980s. In the early 2000s, the United Kingdom and the United States suspected that Iraq was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction.

Then, in 2001, the September the 11th attacks were carried out in the United States. These attacks were coordinated by the Islamist terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, led by Osama bin Laden. In the aftermath of September the 11th, the US President George Bush alleged that Saddam Hussein had ties to al-Qaeda. This wasn't supported by subsequent investigations. Also, despite suspicions that Iraq was hiding weapons of mass destruction, no evidence of active stockpiles was ever discovered. But at the time, him, these reasons, among others, were the rationale for the United States to take action. In early 2003, a US-led coalition invaded Iraq and overthrew Saddam.

Saddam's 24-year reign was over. He was captured by American troops, put on trial for crimes against humanity, and sentenced to death. But while many were happy to see the back of him, The U.S. invasion of Iraq led to many more problems. With Saddam gone, there was now a power vacuum. The years that followed were tumultuous, as different factions fought for control. The U.S. became involved in a protracted, armed conflict, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties. The impact on Iraqi civilians was devastating.

Over the years, attempts to stabilize the country were largely unsuccessful. And amidst the chaos, a group rose to power in the region, the militant organization known as Islamic State or ISIS. The actions of Islamic State in recent years are beyond the scope of our story. But of course, it's important to acknowledge that they, among other groups, have contributed to violence and instability. Their actions have had major wide-reaching repercussions. While most U.S. troops have now withdrawn from Iraq, some remain. Although many people view the 2003 invasion as a mistake, in a sense there's no going back.

In today's world, countries are more closely interconnected than ever. That applies to everywhere, not just Iraq, but because of the events over the past 20 years, it might be said that the world is watching Iraq with particular attention, and some countries remain deeply involved. Iran, for instance, wields a strong and contentious influence over Iraq. While the relationship between these neighboring countries has shifted over the years, they continue to be inextricably connected. And of course, as Iraq is located in the heart of the Middle East, it's often caught up in regional politics and conflicts, something that's been the case throughout history. Within Iraq, there are some signs that things are slowly getting better,

in terms of security and stability. The country has a democratically elected government. Still, it also has to be acknowledged that many challenges remain and that unfortunately political stability tends to be short-lived. Our journey tonight has revealed a country with a complex past, frequent upheavals, periods of conflict, and difficult relationships with other nations. It's also clear that Iraq is a country of global importance,

both in geopolitics generally and in the Muslim world. But any attempt to sum up Iraq is inevitably a simplification. It defies easy definitions. As we've seen, it's a land with ancient roots. But as an interesting, independent country, it's still quite young. The people who have lived in Iraq over the centuries have included sunny and Shia Muslims, but also people of other faiths. And while some people identify strongly as Iraqi, many have multiple identities. They're also Kurds, for example,

or Turkmens. As we come to the end, here's a final thought. While recent years have been exceptionally challenging. It's worth remembering that history tends to go in cycles. Let's hope that the years to come are more peaceful and that Iraq is given a chance to rebuild and flourish.