IRAQ: PAST AND PRESENT
Background, Activities and Critical Analysis
Joanne Dufour, Seattle Washington

For use in: World History classes, Art History classes (30 minute lesson)

Introduction:

Ancient Mesopotamia or modern Iraq, as it is now known, was conquered and reconquered throughout history by many outsiders. Among them were the

Sumerians [2600-2400 BCE]
Akkadians/Agadians [2400-2200 BCE],
Assyrians [1400-1200 BCE],
Babylonians [1950-1600 BCE], under Hammurabi et. al.
Persians [539 - 500 BCE],
Macedonians [331 - 323 BCE], under Alexander the Great
Parthians [171-138 BC],
Arabs [700-1,000 AD],
Ottomans [1453-1520 AD],
British [1917-1958 AD]

Iraq has borne the imprint of the various empires in its history and their consequent accomplishments. Indeed the lessons of history are all around. Soldiers of Coalition forces engaged in current operations are facing this reality.

Beginning five thousand years ago, the valleys between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Iraq known as Mesopotamia saw the rise of developments which earned the title: "cradle of western civilization." These included: monumental architecture, domesticated wheat and barley with the use of plows, domesticated cattle and sheep, some of the earliest writing systems [cuneiform], some of the earliest urban dwellings and in time, astronomy, bleaching and dying, calendars, city building, cobblestone streets, a 24 hour day, irrigation, canals and dams, a legal system, wheeled vehicles, urban plumbing, measuring and surveying instruments, medical writing, metal working, pottery, religion and mathematics based on base 60.

To lovers of archaeology and antiquities, this region has been one of the culturally richest on earth with the layers of contributions by succeeding empires.

Materials:

NewsHour with Jim Lehrer report on Iraq's history of war and how its legacy affects the battlefield today:
read the transcript, view the video, listen to the RealAudio

Correlation to National Standards

Procedure:

1. Listen to the video interview of Seyyed Hossein Nasr and the presentation of Past and Present by Jeffrey Brown, aired on 4-7-03 (or read the transcript).
2. On a map of Iraq locate the cities [in bold type above] with references made to the historic sites found in each: Baghdad, Najaf, and Ur
3. What dilemma has been raised by lovers of archaeology regarding these historic sites? How have military leaders tried to address these concerns? What concerns were raised by townspeople in Najaf? [troops getting too close to sacred mosque] By military leaders concerning Ctesiphon? [Accusation that Iraqis placed military equipment next to the site.]
4. Using the information given above, match the following sites with the ruling empire at the time:

Answers to Matching: 1 d; 2c; 3a; 4b

Extension idea :

1. See lesson posted of 3/31/03: "Najaf - A Holy city Caught in the Crossfire"; and accompanying reading, "U.S. Forces Encircle the Holy City of Najaf"
2. Research the World Heritage sites at the Web site of UNESCO.org. Which sites in Iraq have already been designated World Heritage Sites? Which ones has the Iraqi government applied for designation in recent years?
3. Research additional information on Ur, Babylon and Ctesiphon - the best known antique sites in Iraq - along with the Thousand and One Nights, the Tower of Babel, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon-- the 7th wonder of the world.
4. Looting of art objects was a very serious problem after the first Gulf War. Check current news sources to see what efforts are being made to prevent this.
   
   

National Standards:
National Council for the Social Studies Thematic Strands:

I. Culture

II. Time, Continuity and Change

VI. Power, Authority and Governance

IX. Global Connections

MCREL Standards

World History Standards

Era 2 - Understands major characteristics of civilization and development of civilizations in Mesopotamia, Egypt and Indus Valley
Era 3 - Understands how major religions and large scale empires arose from 500 BCE to 300 CE
Era 4 - Understands causes and consequences of development of Islamic civilization between 7th and 10th centuries

Visual Art Standard 4 - Understands the visual arts in relation to history and cultures

Joanne Dufour has been a classroom teacher, teacher trainer and curriculum developer in the New York and Seattle area and an educational consultant to the United Nations, Newsweek Educational Division and a host of non governmental organizations in the educational field. She is currently on the faculty of Heritage College in their Seattle location.

To find out more about opportunities to contribute to this site, contact Leah Clapman at extra@newshour.org.