1. SOUTHWEST ASIA: IRAQ
Unit 3

3. Climate / Terrain Large desert plains Rugged mountainous regions
Climate: desert
-Mild winters and hot summers
Mountainous regions
-Very cold winters and mild summers
Temperatures: 39 degrees Fahrenheit (Jan) 111 degrees Fahrenheit (July)

5. Government / Economy Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy
Head of State: President
Head of Government: Prime Minister
Economy: oil, petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, & fertilizer
Currency: Iraqi Dinar
1 USD =

6. Demography / Culture Capital: Baghdad Population: 30,399,572
Ethnic groups: Arab (75-80%), Kurdish (15-20%), Other 5%
Religion: Muslim 99%, Other 1%
Language: Arabic, Kurdish, Turkmen, Assyrian, Armenian
Literacy rate: 78%

7. Brief History 1500s Iraq was controlled by the Ottoman Turks
-Ottoman Empire
Control lasted until the end of WWI
-with the fall of the Ottoman Empire
1932, Iraq gained independence

8. Brief History ……………… 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War
-The war devastated the economy
and left Iraq with the largest military
in the Persian Gulf region
1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait, but was
forced out by the United States
2003 U.S. invaded Iraq after they failed
to comply with U.N. inspections. US claimed
Iraqi government was keeping weapons of mass destruction

9. Tourism
Iraqi Arch
Ishtar Gate
Babylon, Iraq

10. Interesting Facts
The Noah’s ark is believed to have been built in Iraq
It is believed that the Garden of Eden was in Iraq
Iraqis feel extremely offended if the family pet comes near the table during meals
The candy Licorice has been used for thousands of years for health benefits, it is a native plant of Iraq
Honey is a source of income and food for the Iraqis

11. Food Maqloubi: Eggplant with red rice National Cookie: Kleicha
National food: Masgouf
Babylonian Pastry