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of the Arab Islamic civilization, from the 8th to the 13th centuries
CE, Baghdad was the seat of the Muslim caliphs, and thus the cen-
ter of the Islamic world. Iraq was one of the first Arab nations to
gain independence in the 20th century, and until the 1991 Gulf
War it was considered an important Arab cultural center. The coun-
try is also important to the industrialized countries of the West
because of its large reserves of oil. Iraq’s known petroleum reserves
are among the largest in the world, and the country has the poten-
tial to be a major exporter of oil, although signficant upgrades to
the national infrastructure are needed to maximize Iraq’s capacity.
The future of Iraq remains uncertain. It may take years, or even
decades, for Iraq to achieve stability and prosperity. But whatever
happens in the Middle East over the next few years, it is likely that
Iraq—with its vast oil reserves, its large population, and its rich cul-
tural heritage—will play an important role.
I RAQ’S P LACE IN THE WORLD 17
Text-Dependent Questions
1. What major Iraqi city did ISIL capture in June 2014?
2. What are the three major ethnic or religious groups in Iraq?
3. Who was dictator of Iraq from 1979 until his overthrow in 2003?
Research Project
The Battle of Karbala in 680 was a major event in the division of Muslim into Sunni and Shia sects. To understand why
the city is revered today by Shiites, read the online article “Karbala: History’s Long Shadow,” from the BBC. It can be
found at