In 1258 Hülegü, the grandson of Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan, overran Mesopotamia, sacked Baghdad, killed the caliph, and massacred hundreds of thousands of residents. However, now it is generally considered by Iraqis to be for all of the martyrs of Iraq, especially those allied with Iran and Syria fighting ISIS, not just of the Iran–Iraq War. This page was last edited on 8 March 2021, at 01:49. According to the traveler Ibn Battuta, Baghdad was one of the largest cities, not including the damage it has received. Beginnings of modernization. Efforts to rebuild the city and its economy were greatly hindered by an ongoing series of economic sanctions imposed by the United Nations to force Iraq, inter alia, to dismantle its programs to build weapons of mass destruction. Mutanabbi Street is located near the old quarter of Baghdad; at Al Rasheed Street. Suitable for teaching 7-11s. The governorate council is responsible for the governorate-wide policy. After the fall of the Umayyads, the first Muslim dynasty, the victorious Abbasid rulers wanted their own capital from which they could rule. They chose a site north of the Sassanid capital of Ctesiphon, and on 30 July 762 the caliph Al-Mansur commissioned the construction of the city. In 1534, Baghdad was captured by the Ottoman Turks. and thereafter; died in 632. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. [122] This project not only addresses the urgent need for new residential units in Baghdad but also acts as a real symbol of progress in the war torn city, as Baghdad has not seen projects of this scale for decades.[123]. The Baʿthist government achieved relative stability and internal development, particularly after 1973, when a rise in world oil prices greatly increased revenues to the government and the populace. In its early years, the city was known as a deliberate reminder of an expression in the Qur'an, when it refers to Paradise. Despite the government's promise to resettle Sunnis displaced by the violence, little has been done to bring this about. History. Thereafter Baghdad became a provincial capital, first of the Mongol emperors of Iran, the Il-Khanid dynasty (1258–1339), and then of their vassals, the Jalāyirids (1339–1410). [100] Even at night, temperatures in summer are seldom below 24 °C (75 °F). The Muslim historian al-Tabari reported an ancient prediction by Christian monks that a lord named Miklas would one day build a spectacular city around the area of Baghdad. Conservationist Lawrence Anthony and some of the zoo keepers cared for the animals and fed the carnivores with donkeys they had bought locally. The Siege of Baghdad was a siege that took place in Baghdad in 1258, lasting for 13 days from January 29, 1258 until February 10, 1258. With the recognition of Iraq as an independent state (formerly the British Mandate of Mesopotamia) in 1932, Baghdad gradually regained some of its former prominence as a significant center of Arabic culture, with a population variously estimated at 6 or over 7 million. [115], The Baghdad Eye, a 198 m (650 ft) tall Ferris wheel, was proposed for Baghdad in August 2008. ", Stanek, L., Miastoprojekt goes abroad: the transfer of architectural labour from socialist Poland to Iraq (1958–1989), The Journal of Architecture, Volume 17, Issue 3, 2012, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (, substantial loss of cultural heritage and historical artifacts, Learn how and when to remove this template message, staged a coup to topple the Kingdom of Iraq, List of neighborhoods and districts in Baghdad, Sindbad Hotel Complex and Conference Center, "Mortality after the 2003 invasion of Iraq: a cross-sectional cluster sample survey", "Cities and urban areas in Iraq with population over 100,000", Vienna unbeatable as world's most liveable city, Baghdad still worst, "BAGHDAD i. [25] Mansur loved the site so much he is quoted saying: "This is indeed the city that I am to found, where I am to live, and where my descendants will reign afterward". Synonyms of Baghdad will be presented below each meaning if they are available. Municipally, the governorate is divided into 9 municipalities, which have responsibility for local issues. The Muslim historian al-Tabari reported an ancient prediction by Christian … The city of Baghdad soon became so large that it had to be divided into three judicial districts: Madinat al-Mansur (the Round City), al-Sharqiyya (Karkh) and Askar al-Mahdi (on the West Bank).[27]. Beginning in April 2003, the U.S. controlled Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) began the process of creating new functions for these. Tughril Beg saw himself as the protector of the Abbasid Caliphs.[60]. Water exists on both the north and south ends of the city, allowing all households to have a plentiful supply, which was very uncommon during this time. The city’s scholarly glory can be ea… [61] Not long before the arrival of the Saljuqs in Baghdad, al-Basasiri petitioned to the Fatimid Imam-Caliph al-Mustansir to support him in conquering Baghdad on the Ismaili Imam's behalf. Prophet of Islam; born c. 570 to Banu Hashim clan of Quraysh tribe in Mecca; raised by father’s family; received revelations from Allah in 610 C.E. Each gate had double doors that were made of iron; the doors were so heavy it took several men to open and close them. Even today, London remains an impressive and significant place, and not only as the center of a mighty empire on which the sun never set. This old core has become a complex urban organism as Al-Saffar [6] says. Tehran: Balkh (نشر بلخ). Author of The Modern History of Iraq. Junayd of Baghdad (Persian: ... His name became famous in many parts of the world despite the persecution he faced and the tongues of slander shot at him. For a variety of reasons, rural migrants have been particularly drawn to. History Foundation and early growth. [112], Most Iraqi reconstruction efforts have been devoted to the restoration and repair of badly damaged urban infrastructure. Qushla and its surroundings is where the historical features and cultural capitals of Baghdad are concentrated, from the Mutanabbi Street, Abbasid-era palace and bridges, Ottoman-era mosques to the Mustansariyah Madrasa. This was the official name on coins, weights, and other official usage, although the common people continued to use the old name. [82], Al-Shaheed Monument, also known as the Martyr's Memorial, is a monument dedicated to the Iraqi soldiers who died in the Iran–Iraq War. "by Bosworth, Clifford Edmund. Shia death squads would kidnap Muslims (Sunnis) and execute them as part of its milita's believes. There were cabarets and taverns, halls for backgammon and chess, live plays, concerts, and acrobats. [3] The city was largely destroyed at the hands of the Mongol Empire in 1258, resulting in a decline that would linger through many centuries due to frequent plagues and multiple successive empires. The Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra is a government funded symphony orchestra in Baghdad. For poetry written about Baghdad, see Reuven Snir (ed. New infrastructure including modern sewerage, water, and highway facilities were built during this period. The siege, laid by Ilkhanate Mongol forces and allied troops, involved the investment , capture, and sack of Baghdad, which was the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate at that time. Baghdad (/ˈbæɡdæd, bəɡˈdæd/; Arabic: بَغْدَاد [baɣˈdaːd] (listen)) is the capital of Iraq and one of the largest cities in the Arab world, and compared to its large population it has a small area at just 673 square kilometers (260 sq mi). From the mid-9th century onward the ʿAbbāsid Caliphate was gradually weakened by internal strife, by crop failure caused by neglect of the irrigation system, and finally, in the 10th century, by the intrusion of nomadic elements. British influence remained dominant until 1958, when the Hashemite monarchy that Britain had helped to establish was overthrown in a military coup. It began on March 20, 2003 and ended on December 18, 2011. The earliest was that of the famous Al-Ma'mun, who was caliph from 813 to 833. It was built under the supervision of the Barmakids. Prosperity began to be restored to Baghdad with the opening of steamship travel on the Tigris in the 1860s. It was made of brick and marble. Baghdad (Arabic: بغداد Baġdād) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Governorate. ed. In the Arab world, it is called as the second largest city after Cairo, Egypt. Mackenzie, D. (1971). It is possible that this was caused by the repopulating of the city with rural residents after the multiple sackings of the late Middle Ages. Soldiers saluting during the ceremony to mark the end of the U.S. military presence in Iraq, Baghdad, December 15, 2011. The land on which the city is built is almost entirely flat and low-lying, being of alluvial origin due to the periodic large floods which have occurred on the river. Babylon was founded at some point prior to the reign of Sargon of Akkad (also known as Sargon the Great) who ruled from 2334-2279 BCE and claimed to have built temples at Babylon (other ancient sources seem to indicate that Sargonhimself founded the city). dad (băg′dăd′) The capital and largest city of Iraq, in the center of the country on the Tigris River. [63], On 10 February 1258, Baghdad was captured by the Mongols led by Hulegu, a grandson of Chingiz Khan (Genghis Khan), during the siege of Baghdad. [116][117][118][119] In October 2008, it was reported that Al-Zawraa Park was expected to be the site,[120] and a 55 m (180 ft) wheel was installed there in March 2011. Its wharves were lined with ships from China, India, and East Africa. ), Baghdad: The City in Verse (Harvard, 2013). Centuries of decline. There, local councils were elected from 20 neighbourhoods (Nahia) and these councils elected representatives from their members to serve on six district councils (Qada). The caliph al-Maʾmūn (813–833) encouraged the translation of ancient Greek works into Arabic, founded hospitals and an observatory, and attracted poets and artisans to his capital. In 813, after the death of caliph Al-Amin, the palace was no longer used as the home for the caliph and his family. [70] Baghdad became a provincial capital controlled by the Mongol Jalayirid (1400–1411), Turkic Kara Koyunlu (1411–1469), Turkic Ak Koyunlu (1469–1508), and the Iranian Safavid (1508–1534) dynasties. Founded 500 years earlier, Baghdad’s population had reached one million within a century, making it the world’s largest, most prosperous, and celebrated city. Points of interest include the National Museum of Iraq whose collection of artifacts was looted during the 2003 invasion, and the iconic Hands of Victory arches. This long, slow decline was merely a prelude to the devastating attacks from which Baghdad would not recover until the 20th century. As of the end of 2014, only 1,500 Assyrians remained in Dora. This three tier system of local government connected the people of Baghdad to the central government through their representatives from the neighbourhood, through the district, and up to the city council. Some of the important cultural institutions in the city include the National Theater, which was looted during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, but efforts are underway to restore the theatre. Both were curtailed by eight years of bitter warfare with neighbouring Iran during the 1980s. Also in 2003, a minor riot in the city (which took place on 21 July) caused some disturbance in the population. Caliph al-Mansur’s new city of Baghdad was built with one enterprising goal in mind: to stand unrivaled, the greatest city of the medieval world. If we don't currently have any definitions there is a link to check definitions on Google. [57] The last two were examples of madrasa or theological college libraries. At that time, Babylon seems to have been a minor city or perhaps a large port town on the Euphrates River at the point where it runs closest to the river Tigris. Figure 3. There is no single city council that singularly governs Baghdad at a municipal level. by Rawlinson, George. There is also a private radio station called "Dijlah" (named after the Arabic word for the Tigris River) that was created in 2004 as Iraq's first independent talk radio station. The war resulted in the toppling of the Iraqi government led by Saddam Hussein. [41] Baghdad was likely the largest city in the world from shortly after its foundation until the 930s, when it tied with Córdoba. Baghdad has a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh), featuring extremely hot, prolonged, dry summers and mild to cool, slightly wet, short winters. Various groups of people occupied the area around Baghdad as early as 4,000 years ago. [citation needed] Notable scholars based in Baghdad during this time include translator Hunayn ibn Ishaq, mathematician al-Khwarizmi, and philosopher Al-Kindi. The Sasanian city of Gur in Fars, built 500 years before Baghdad, is nearly identical in its general circular design, radiating avenues, and the government buildings and temples at the centre of the city. [9][19][20] Some scholars suggested Aramaic derivations.[9]. Regional services, however, are coordinated and carried out by a mayor who oversees the municipalities. It was built under the supervision of the Barmakids. Derived terms [ edit ] Greek philosopher; teacher of Alexander the Great; knowledge based on observation of phenomena in material world. On 14 July 1958, members of the Iraqi Army, under Abd al-Karim Qasim, staged a coup to topple the Kingdom of Iraq. In August 1393, Baghdad was occupied by the Central Asian Turkic conqueror Timur ("Tamerlane"),[68] by marching there in only eight days from Shiraz. The process initially focused on the election of neighbourhood councils in the official neighbourhoods, elected by neighbourhood caucuses. The circular design of the city was a direct reflection of the traditional Persian Sasanian urban design. Lows below freezing occur a couple of times per year on average. At this point, Baghdad was ruled by the Ilkhanate, a breakaway state of the Mongol Empire, ruling from Iran. His city, Madīnat al-Salām (“City of Peace”), was built within circular walls and called “the Round City.” More a government complex than a residential city, it was about 3,000 yards (2,700 metres) in diameter and had three concentric walls. [116], In October 2008, the Baghdad Metro resumed service. . Several estimates suggest that the city contained over a million inhabitants at its peak. Although some of the princes of the previous Umayyad dynasty had begun to gather and translate Greek scientific literature, the Abbasids were the first to foster Greek learning on a large scale. The number of neighbourhood representatives on a district council is based upon the neighbourhood's population. Many of the Abbasid caliphs were patrons of learning and enjoyed collecting both ancient and contemporary literature. Baghdad and southern Iraq remained under Ottoman rule until 1917, when captured by the British during World War I. Marketplaces are some of the most dangerous places in Baghdad. Famous Arab poets and singers such as Nizar Qabbani, Umm Kulthum, Fairuz, Salah Al-Hamdani, Ilham al-Madfai and others have performed for the city. There have been many studies on history of Islamic libraries (Houses of Wisdom) that evolved thanks to Baghdad's house of wisdom. Find below definitions and meanings of Baghdad. [9] They suggested various meanings, the most common of which was "bestowed by God". Baghdad's record highest temperature of 51.8 °C (125.2 °F) was reached on 28 July 2020. Baghdad was centrally located between Europe and Asia and was an important area for trade and exchanges of ideas. In the central part of the building, there was a green dome that was 39 m high. There are a number of other locations in the wider region whose names are compounds of the word bagh, including Baghlan and Bagram in Afghanistan, Baghshan in Iran,[16] and Baghdati in Georgia, which likely share the same etymological origins. Surrounding the palace was an esplanade, a waterside building, in which only the caliph could come riding on horseback. The UN sanctions restricted petroleum sales (long the main source of Iraq’s revenue) and severely limited imports, and the country lacked the ability to produce or purchase essential spare parts to rebuild or maintain Baghdad’s power, water, and sanitation facilities. [130] Institutions offering cultural education in Baghdad include The Music and Ballet School of Baghdad and the Institute of Fine Arts Baghdad. The Mustansiriyah madrasa, which owned an exceedingly rich library, was founded by Al-Mustansir, the second last Abbasid caliph, who died in 1242. Overview. The true founding of the city, however, dates to 762, when the site, located between present-day Al-Kāẓimiyyah and Al-Karkh and occupied by a Persian village called Baghdad, was selected by al-Manṣūr, the second caliph of the ʿAbbāsid dynasty, for his capital. For other uses, see, Palestine Meridian hotel and Ishtar Sheraton hotel, Center of learning (8th to 9th centuries), Stagnation and invasions (10th to 16th centuries), Estimates of total population differ substantially. The zoological park used to be the largest in the Middle East. The heyday of Baghdad was 1,200 years ago when it was the thriving capital of the Muslim civilisation. From 1851 to 1852 and from 1861 to 1867, Baghdad was governed, under the Ottoman Empire by Mehmed Namık Pasha. For a decade after 1958, Baghdad underwent a period of political turbulence, with a succession of coups and military regimes. In addition, the go-ahead has been given to build numerous architecturally unique skyscrapers along the Tigris that would develop the city's financial centre in Kadhehemiah. [citation needed], This article is about the capital of Iraq. Al-Qushla: Iraq's oasis of free expression. In May 2010, a new residential and commercial project nicknamed Baghdad Gate was announced. [121], Iraq's Tourism Board is also seeking investors to develop a "romantic" island on the River Tigris in Baghdad that was once a popular honeymoon spot for newlywed Iraqis. [36], The four surrounding walls of Baghdad were named Kufa, Basra, Khurasan, and Syria; named because their gates pointed in the directions of these destinations. People from those regions would come to Baghdad … Sunni Muslims make up 45% of Iraq's population and they are still a majority in west and north Iraq. Abbasid definition, a member of a dynasty of caliphs ruling at Baghdad, a.d. 750–1258, governing most of the Islamic world and claiming descent from Abbas, uncle of Muhammad. Abu al-‘Abbas’s successor, Al-Mansur, welcomed non-Arab Muslims to his court. Direct Ottoman rule was reimposed by Ali Rıza Pasha in 1831. Mansur believed that Baghdad was the perfect city to be the capital of the Islamic empire under the Abbasids. This article documents the history of Baghdad. [105] Snowfall was again reported on 11 February 2020, with accumulations across the city.[106]. Baghdad reached the zenith of its economic prosperity and intellectual life in the 8th and early 9th centuries under al-Mahdī (who reigned from 775 to 785) and his successor, Hārūn al-Rashīd (786–809). The nine District Advisory Councils (DAC) are as follows:[92]. [35] In the center of the city lay the mosque, as well as headquarters for guards. Some say it comes from an Aramaic phrase that means "sheep enclosure" (not very poetic . The city’s educational and medical institutions also deteriorated, and levels of disease, malnutrition, and illiteracy rose dramatically. [51][52][53] Baghdad was also a significant center of Islamic religious learning, with Al-Jahiz contributing to the formation of Mu'tazili theology, as well as Al-Tabari culminating the scholarship on the Quranic exegesis. During the Mandate, Baghdad's substantial Jewish community comprised a quarter of the city's population. Iraqi Airways, the national airline of Iraq, has its headquarters on the grounds of Baghdad International Airport in Baghdad. Winter temperatures are typical of hot desert climates. It connects the center to the southern neighborhood of Dora. [54] In 1798 a permanent British diplomatic residency was established there, and the British residents soon acquired a power and prestige second only to that of the governor. They chose a site north of the Sassanid capital of Ctesiphon, and on 30 July 762[23] the caliph Al-Mansur commissioned the construction of the city. Why did Chinese products pour into the Islamic Empire? See more. [77] The Iraq War took place from 2003-2011, but an Islamist insurgency lasted until 2013. The city was designed as a circle about 2 km (1.2 mi) in diameter, leading it to be known as the "Round City". [55] Many of the One Thousand and One Nights tales, widely known as the Arabian Nights, are set in Baghdad during this period. The city grew rapidly after its inception: its military strength, economic power, booming trade, cultural and intellectual dominance and dizzying wealth establishing it as the center of an empire stretching from across the East and into North Africa. As within the city, the district councils then elected representatives from among their members to serve on the 35 member Baghdad Regional Council. Between 1623 and 1638, it returned to Iranian rule before falling back into Ottoman hands. Also, the wall was 30 m high, which included merlons, a solid part of an embattled parapet usually pierced by embrasures. Baghdad was a busy city during the day and had many attractions at night. Rashid Ali installed a pro-German and pro-Italian government to replace the pro-British government of Regent Abdul Ilah. Baghdad definition, a city in and the capital of Iraq, in the central part, on the Tigris. In the following century, the 9th, the city achieved its greater strides in civilisation. [131], Priceless collection of artifacts in the National Museum of Iraq was looted by the Iraqi citizens during the 2003 US-led invasion. When Mansur heard the story, he became very joyful, for legend has it, he was called Miklas as a child. The name was changed to Al-Mustansiriya University in 1963. In 1920, Baghdad became the capital of the British Mandate of Mesopotamia with several architectural and planning projects commissioned to reinforce this administration. "A memoir of Major-General Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlinson." Wahlperiode Drucksache IV/3672, "Baghdad: The City in Verse, translated and edited by Reuven Snir", "Baghdad celebrates selection as UNESCO City of Literature | Nermeen Mufti", "Five women confront a new Iraq | csmonitor.com", "Gunmen storm independent radio station in latest attack against media in Iraq", "Occupation and international humanitarian law: Questions and answers – ICRC", Miastoprojekt goes abroad: the transfer of architectural labour from socialist Poland to Iraq (1958–1989), Iraq Image – Baghdad Satellite Observation, National Commission for Investment in Iraq, Description of the original layout of Baghdad, Ethnic and sectarian map of Baghdad – Healingiraq, UAE Investors Keen On Taking Part In Baghdad Renaissance Project, Iraq Inter-Agency Information & Analysis Unit, An unrecognised or partially-recognised nation, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Baghdad&oldid=1010922534, Populated places established in the 8th century, Articles with incomplete citations from July 2020, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia pages move-protected due to vandalism, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2018, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles lacking reliable references from December 2017, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from March 2019, All Wikipedia articles needing clarification, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2019, Articles needing additional references from June 2019, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2020, Articles with dead external links from July 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Siege of Baghdad (1625), Ottoman–Safavid Wars, Masjid Al-Kadhimain is a shrine that is located in the, Salihiya Residential area – situated off Al Sinak bridge in central Baghdad, surrounded by Al- Mansur Hotel in the north and Al-Rasheed hotel in the south, Al Khat al Sare'a – Mohammed al Qasim (high speed lane) – runs through Baghdad, north–south, Al Sinaa Street (Industry Street) runs by the University of Technology – centre of the computer trade in Baghdad, "Travels in Asia and Africa 1325-135" by Ibn Battuta.