[ 6.5 ] History of Arabia and Iraq - Edl · [ 6.5 ] History of Arabia and Iraq Learning Objectives...

[ 6.5 ] History of Arabia and Iraq


Learning Objectives

• Describe the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia.• Explain the origins and beliefs of Islam, including the

significance of Ramadan and the annual hajj, and trace the spread of Islam.

• Identify important events in modern Arabia and Iraq, including the creation of Iraq, the discovery of oil, and the Persian Gulf conflicts.


Key Terms

• civilization• Mesopotamia• Mecca• monotheism• Quran• caliph• Ramadan• hajj• mosques• minority• dictator

Climate, Water, and People in Arabia and Iraq

Because of dry climates in this region, water is scarce. Pipelines transport fresh water. Analyze Maps: What climate dominates this region? Where are other climates present in this region?

Early Civilizations & Empires in Arabia & Iraq

Early Civilizations and Empires in Arabia and Iraq


● Arabia and Iraq have played a key role in world history. ● This region was one of the places where civilization

began. ● A civilization is a culture that has a written language

and in which people have many different kinds of jobs. ● Writing first developed in this region. ● The world’s first known empires also developed in what

is now Iraq.


● Later, Arabia was the birthplace of Islam, one of the world’s major religions.

● Over the centuries, foreign powers controlled much of this region.

● In modern times, Arabia and Iraq became the world’s most important source of oil, a fuel that every country in the world uses.


• A Birthplace of Civilization○ Mesopotamia = “between the rivers” in Greek○ Present-day Iraq○ The Fertile Crescent; planting of crops and raising of animals○ More food → surplus → some people become merchants

(potters, weavers, etc.)○ Taxes for the government → supported priests and

government officials → population growth• The Sumerians

○ Sumer - region in southern Mesopotamia○ First writing system - cuneiform○ Developments: Irrigation canals, mathematics, potter’s wheel○ Epic of Gilgamesh: one of the world’s oldest written stories

based on the real king, Gilgamesh, who lived around 2700 B.C.


• The First Empires○ Sumerian cities → grew into first city-states○ City-state: a “small country” focused on a single city○ 2270 B.C. King Sargon from the city of Akkad conquered

Sumer and other parts of Mesopotamia → founded the first known empire

○ Later, around 1700 B.C., the city-state of Babylon built an empire that included all of Mesopotamia■ Babylonians added to our knowledge of mathematics &

astronomy○ Then, the Assyrians defeated Babylon around 900 B.C. and

created an even bigger empire that included Egypt.■ The Assyrians became a model for later empires


• Persians, Greeks, Romans, and Arabs○ Around 550 B.C., Mesopotamia fell under Persian control

■ Persian Empire stretched from North Africa to India○ The Persian Empire was defeated by Alexander the Great

■ Alexander founded many cities and spread Greek culture■ When he died, his empire was split apart

○ The Roman Empire eventually took over part of Alexander’s empire■ Fought with Persia over the fertile lands of Mesopotamia

○ Greeks, Romans, and Persians encountered Arab tribes of the Arabian Peninsula through trade■ nomads, no permanent home■ herded sheep, goats, and camels■ visited oases for food and water; were centers for trade


This carving from a palace in Nimrud, in northern Iraq, shows an Assyrian king with his assistants. The Assyrians built a mighty empire in ancient times.


Sequence Events: Large empires developed centuries after the first writing system. Why might this be the case?

Islam & Islamic Civilizations

Islam and Islamic Civilizations

● In early Arabia, one important place was the city of Mecca. It was a trading and religious center, built at an oasis.

● People throughout the Arabian Peninsula traveled to Mecca. They went to worship at a shrine called the Kaaba.

● Many worshiped more than one god. In the a.d. 600s, however, this changed.


• The Birth of Islam○ Muhammad - born in Mecca

■ Muslims believe that he saw the angel Gabriel who brought him messages from God when he was meditating

○ Quran - the holy book of Islam that contains those messages○ Muslims kicked out of Mecca in 622 A.D. → moved to

Medina where they were attacked by Mecca → Muslims won and Muhammad returned to Mecca the next year.■ Made the Kaaba a place of worship for Islam

○ Muhammad’s death in 623 → followers argued over how to choose next leader → two groups emerged■ Shia - believed they should follow his son-in-law, Ali■ Sunnis - believed they should follow his father-in-law,

Abu Bakr● He became the first caliph, political & religious leader


Muslims gather at the Great Mosque in Mecca. The Kaaba, the black, cube-shaped building in the center of the crowd, is the holiest site in Islam.


• The Beliefs of Islam○ The word Islam means “submission”; submitting one’s will

to God○ God = Allah○ Importance of family and community○ Sharia = islamic law formed by the Quran, Muhammad’s

teachings, and the traditions of family and community○ The Five Pillars - five religious duties followed by Muslims


• A Muslim Empire○ Eventually conquered all of the Persian Empire, Byzantine

Empire, Arabia, North Africa, Spain, and parts of India and central Asia.

○ Established Baghdad in present-day Iraq as the capital of their empire

○ Controlled trade routes connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe, including the Silk Road to China

• Center of Culture and Learning○ Arabia and Iraq were centers of a rich civilization

■ Baghdad became a center of learning○ Advances in science, mathematics, and the arts

■ formed the basis for modern chemistry, physics, and medicine

■ Developed algebra○ Built mosques, or Islamic houses of worship


Trade played an important role in the Arab Muslim empire. The Silk Road passed through it. Analyze Maps: Which city in Arabia and Iraq was most important to trade? Why?


• The Ottoman Empire○ The Arab Muslim Empire fell apart after the 900s and was

eventually conquered by the Ottoman Turks.○ The Ottomans were not Arabs; they were Turkish people

who were Muslim also, which helped spread Islam and Islamic culture.

Modern-Day Arabia & Iraq

Arabia and Iraq in Modern Times

Make Generalizations: What generalizations can be made about where Iraq's different ethnic groups live?

Governments in Arabia and Iraq

● Arabia and Iraq have had different types of governments over the centuries.

● Kings ruled city-states and empires in ancient Mesopotamia. ● After the spread of Islam in the a.d. 600s, Muslim caliphs

ruled a vast empire. ● A dictator controlled Iraq from 1979 to 2003. ● Today, monarchs rule most of the region. Some have total

power, while others rule according to constitutions and share power.

● Democracy is also growing in the region.

[ 6.5 ] History of Arabia and Iraq - Edl · [ 6.5 ] History of Arabia and Iraq Learning Objectives...

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