978-1-4222-3442-6

17

I RAQ ’ S P LACE IN THE W ORLD

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.

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 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-22657029.