So much has been talked and disccussed about Iraq for all wrong reasons by the media for an awful lot of time that one would never notice the good things like its history, culture and all the good things it had before we ourself ruined it! So this blog is just to see if I could see something positive about it.
Geography
Iraq, a triangle of mountains, desert, and fertile river valley, is bounded on the east by Iran, on the north by Turkey, on the west by Syria and Jordan, and on the south by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. It is twice the size of Idaho. The country has arid desert land west of the Euphrates, a broad central valley between the Euphrates and the Tigris, and mountains in the northeast.
Culture of Iraq
Iraq has one of the world's oldest cultural histories. Iraq is where the Mesopotamian civilization began, which went on to influence the European and Asian civilizations. So as far as culture is concerned, Iraq has a rich heritage. The country is known for its poets and its painters and sculptors are among the best in the Arab world, some of them being world-class. Besides this, Iraq is also known for producing fine handicrafts, including rugs and carpets. The architecture of Iraq is best seen in the sprawling metropolis of Baghdad, where the construction is almost entirely new, with some islands of exquisite old buildings and compounds.
Unlike many Arab countries, it embraces and celebrates the achievements of its past in pre-Islamic times. What is now Iraq was once part of the Cradle of Civilization in ancient Mesopotamia and the culture of Sumer, from which the first known wheel was recovered, flourished there. In the 8th century and 9th century the Islamic Abbasid Caliphs presided over what was then the world's leading civilization, rich in science, art and literature.
Heritage
Iraq is a country of a wide and varied heritage, home to Muslims, Christians, Jews, Assyrians and "Marsh Nomads", amongst countless others. As such, many have contributed to the wide spectrum of Iraqi Culture.
Traditional music consists of instruments such as ouds, flutes, violins, drums, and tambourines. Now however, there are many young artists generating pop, rap, and wider types of musical genres. Umm Kulthum and Fairouz are two woman singers renowned for their voices and especially cherished in Iraq. In fact, the common guitar, an American emblem, evolved from the guitar of ancient Iraq.
Tea houses are commonly scattered over Iraq, and in the afternoon it is a habit for shopkeepers to retreat into the back with a close circle of friends to sip tea over gossip, an Iraqi "siesta".
Rites of passage are mainly centered on children being schooled enough to correctly read the Quran, quite the challenging task. The Quran is perhaps one of the hardest texts to read, both because of depth of meaning and due to the difficult range of sounds Arabic demands from the human vocal cords. The child with least pronunciation errors is called the "hafiz" or "memorizer". There is usually a large celebration in the child's honor.
Marriages and births are enormous arts of Iraqi life. It is common to have hundreds of people attend weddings. Although there are some arranged marriages, a couple must agree before entering into it, and there are very low divorce rates in Iraq, though it is acceptable and fairly easy under Islamic doctrine.
Nonetheless, Arabs believe that wisdom comes with wrinkles in old age, and as such grandparents and parents are highly respected. It is seen as a huge disgrace and very embarrassing if a child publicly sasses or is rude to someone of the elder generation.
As in other Arab nations, the left hand is used for sanitary activities including the restroom, and the right hand is used for food and greeting; offering to shake with the left hand may be perceived as an insult, and eating with the left hand embarrassing. Iraqis are a very passionate people, and their conversations will often be adorned with many hand gestures.
Generosity is highly valued in Iraqi culture, and it is seen as rude to snub someone asking a favor. This is heightened especially during the month of Ramadan, when it is necessary to give zakat or donations to the poor. Many families, rich and poor alike, cook for the homeless, or even invite them to dinner. Some prepare plates of baklavah or a dish of kebob to take to them.
Something so-different than what u usually hear about Iraq isn't it? Infact there are so much more to write about this one of the most culture rich country where its roots reaching back up to 2000 BC!. But the human greed has got the best of it and looking at its current state, one can only pitty.... hope one day.. she would get back to her old glory!
Geography
Iraq, a triangle of mountains, desert, and fertile river valley, is bounded on the east by Iran, on the north by Turkey, on the west by Syria and Jordan, and on the south by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. It is twice the size of Idaho. The country has arid desert land west of the Euphrates, a broad central valley between the Euphrates and the Tigris, and mountains in the northeast.
Culture of Iraq
Iraq has one of the world's oldest cultural histories. Iraq is where the Mesopotamian civilization began, which went on to influence the European and Asian civilizations. So as far as culture is concerned, Iraq has a rich heritage. The country is known for its poets and its painters and sculptors are among the best in the Arab world, some of them being world-class. Besides this, Iraq is also known for producing fine handicrafts, including rugs and carpets. The architecture of Iraq is best seen in the sprawling metropolis of Baghdad, where the construction is almost entirely new, with some islands of exquisite old buildings and compounds.
Unlike many Arab countries, it embraces and celebrates the achievements of its past in pre-Islamic times. What is now Iraq was once part of the Cradle of Civilization in ancient Mesopotamia and the culture of Sumer, from which the first known wheel was recovered, flourished there. In the 8th century and 9th century the Islamic Abbasid Caliphs presided over what was then the world's leading civilization, rich in science, art and literature.
Heritage
Iraq is a country of a wide and varied heritage, home to Muslims, Christians, Jews, Assyrians and "Marsh Nomads", amongst countless others. As such, many have contributed to the wide spectrum of Iraqi Culture.
Traditional music consists of instruments such as ouds, flutes, violins, drums, and tambourines. Now however, there are many young artists generating pop, rap, and wider types of musical genres. Umm Kulthum and Fairouz are two woman singers renowned for their voices and especially cherished in Iraq. In fact, the common guitar, an American emblem, evolved from the guitar of ancient Iraq.
Tea houses are commonly scattered over Iraq, and in the afternoon it is a habit for shopkeepers to retreat into the back with a close circle of friends to sip tea over gossip, an Iraqi "siesta".
Rites of passage are mainly centered on children being schooled enough to correctly read the Quran, quite the challenging task. The Quran is perhaps one of the hardest texts to read, both because of depth of meaning and due to the difficult range of sounds Arabic demands from the human vocal cords. The child with least pronunciation errors is called the "hafiz" or "memorizer". There is usually a large celebration in the child's honor.
Marriages and births are enormous arts of Iraqi life. It is common to have hundreds of people attend weddings. Although there are some arranged marriages, a couple must agree before entering into it, and there are very low divorce rates in Iraq, though it is acceptable and fairly easy under Islamic doctrine.
Nonetheless, Arabs believe that wisdom comes with wrinkles in old age, and as such grandparents and parents are highly respected. It is seen as a huge disgrace and very embarrassing if a child publicly sasses or is rude to someone of the elder generation.
As in other Arab nations, the left hand is used for sanitary activities including the restroom, and the right hand is used for food and greeting; offering to shake with the left hand may be perceived as an insult, and eating with the left hand embarrassing. Iraqis are a very passionate people, and their conversations will often be adorned with many hand gestures.
Generosity is highly valued in Iraqi culture, and it is seen as rude to snub someone asking a favor. This is heightened especially during the month of Ramadan, when it is necessary to give zakat or donations to the poor. Many families, rich and poor alike, cook for the homeless, or even invite them to dinner. Some prepare plates of baklavah or a dish of kebob to take to them.
Something so-different than what u usually hear about Iraq isn't it? Infact there are so much more to write about this one of the most culture rich country where its roots reaching back up to 2000 BC!. But the human greed has got the best of it and looking at its current state, one can only pitty.... hope one day.. she would get back to her old glory!
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