May 20, 2004
Ottoman Empire interactive; a Brief History (and approximate future) of Iraq

Here is an interesting web page-- it features an interactive map of the Ottoman Empire, as it changed during the 6 centuries it was around.

Ottoman Empire 1300-1922

In the early 1920's after World War I, Iraq was carved from the remains of the Ottoman Empire by the British.

I think the following excerpt from HistoryChannel.com about how things went in post-invasion Iraq back then speaks for itself:

In World War I the British invaded Iraq in their war against the Ottoman Empire; Britain declared then that it intended to return to Iraq some control of its own affairs. Nationalist elements, impatient over delay in gaining independence, revolted in 1920 but were suppressed by the British. Late that year the Treaty of Sèvres established Iraq as a mandate of the League of Nations under British administration, and in 1921 the country was made a kingdom headed by Faisal I. With strong reluctance an elected Iraqi assembly agreed in 1924 to a treaty with Great Britain providing for the maintenance of British military bases and for a British right of veto over legislation. By 1926 an Iraqi parliament and administration were governing the country. The treaty of 1930 provided for a 25-year alliance with Britain. The British mandate was terminated in 1932, and Iraq was admitted to the League of Nations.

In 1933 the small Christian Assyrian community revolted, culminating in a governmental military crackdown and loss of life and setting a precedent for internal minority uprisings in Iraq. Meanwhile, the first oil concession had been granted in 1925, and in 1934 the export of oil began. Domestic politics were turbulent, with many factions contending for power. Late in 1936, the country experienced the first of seven military coups that were to take place in the next five years.

It doesn't get much better after that either. See for yourself.

Posted by Lance Brown at May 20, 2004 04:56 PM
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