Map of cities in Iraq

The legendary center of the Republic of Iraq – Baghdad – is situated on the bank of the Tigris River that flows in Mesopotamia. This land is the birthplace of the famous “One Thousand and One Nights”. It is also home to some of the earliest civilizations in the world. At some point in history, Baghdad was even the largest city in the world with a population of more than a million. When translated from Persian, the name literally means “bestowed by God” (bagh means God and dad is given). Abū Jaʿfar al-Manṣūr, the second Abbasid Caliph, founded the city in 762. Initially, he named the city Madinat al-Salaam or The City of Peace. Locals considered this name as a symbol of peace and prosperity. The name Baghdad became dominant later, turning into the only name of the settlement by the 11th century. The new city quickly became an important settlement and the center of the Abbasid Caliphate. The importance of Baghdad was growing due to its beneficial geographical and economical location, turning the city into a major settlement in the Middle East. The city had to face tough times in mid-13th century when Mongol ruler Hulagu Khan plundered the territory and almost completely ruined the city. This weakened Baghdad severely, so the city couldn’t resist other …