Baghdad - Gheos Worldguide

Baghdad (بَغْدَاد)

Baghdad was founded by the second Abbasid caliph Abu Jafar al-Mansur in 762 AD on the western bank of the Tigris River, opposite an old Iranian village also named Baghdad, to serve as the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate.

The original city was round, with three concentric walls. The innermost wall enclosed the palace of the caliph and the grand mosque, the second wall defined the army quarters, and the homes of the people occupied the outermost enclosure. The merchants' quarters, or bazaars, were located outside the city walls. The city's original name was Madinat as-Salam (City of Peace), but it was more popularly known as the 'Round City'.

The city gradually expanded and caused it to extend beyond the original walls. It reached its peak of prosperity and influence under the caliphs Mahdi and Harun ar-Rashid, during the 8th and 9th centuries AD. During this period the city expanded to the eastern bank of the Tigris, which later became the heart of Baghdad. The eastern section was called Rusafah and the two parts of the city were joined by a bridge, built of boats. Impressive buildings and magnificent gardens were built that gave it the reputation of the richest and most beautiful city in the world.

In the latter half of the 9th century, the Abbasid caliphs' power was weakened by internal strife leading to civil war, but the city remained an important center of trade and culture for more than four centuries. Real decline didn't come until 1258, when Hulagu, the grandson of the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan, sacked Baghdad and put an end to the Abbasid caliphate. The caliph was murdered and many buildings and the irrigation system were destroyed. When the area around Baghdad became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1534, the city fell into obscurity and neglect for several hundred years.

It was not until 1932, when Iraq gained independence that some schools and hospitals were built and improvement efforts were made to stop further degradation. Baghdad slowly regained some of its former prominence.

In the 1970s the oil boom finally brought wealth to Baghdad again and huge development projects were started. Entire neighborhoods were upgraded with new water lines and sewers. A new airport was built, as well as a network of highways. During the construction work, archaeological excavations unearthed numerous artifacts from more glorious times. Everything came to an abrubt stop with the 1980's war with Iran and the Gulf War that immediately followed it.

In 2003 the United States led an invasion and the Iraq War that followed, lasted until 2011. The subsequent insurgion (2011-2013) and a renewed was until 2017, caused massive damage to the capital and its cultural heritage. During the period from 2003 'till the end of the war, Baghdad was one of the most dangerous places in the world with a high rate of terrorist attacks, but after 2017 they have declined dramatically.

Nowadays Baghdad stretches along both banks of the Tigris River, with the district of Rusafah on the east and the district of Karkh on the west. Eleven bridges connect the two halves of the city. Saddam Hussein's picture, mostly larger than life, used to be displayed everywhere, but nowadays none of them remains.

The city of Baghdad has many interesting museums, mosques, churches and even synagogues, which prove fascinating to the visitor. Some of the most interesting sites are listed here:

Points of interest

The Victory Arch of Qaws an-Naṣr (قوس النصر) is officially called the 'Swords of Qādisīyah', but most locals call it 'the Hands of Victory or the Crossed Swords'. The statue consists of a pair of triumphal arches, each one of which is a pair of outstretched hands holding crossed swords. The arches mark the entrances to Grand Festivities Square and the parade ground constructed to commemorate the Iran–Iraq War. The arches were erected in 1989 and are one of Baghdad's major visitor attractions.
Grand Festivities Square is the main square where public celebrations are held. There are three important monuments that commemorate Iraqi's fallen soldiers, as well as its victories in war. These monuments are Al-Shaheed Monument, the Victory Arch and the Unknown Soldier's Monument.
Al-Shaheed Monument is also known as the Martyr's Memorial. It was originally meant to be a monument to commemorate the Iraqi soldiers who died in the Iran–Iraq War, but most locals consider it to be a monument for all of the martyrs of Iraq. The monument was inaugurated in 1983.
The 13th-century Mustansiriyah School used to be an important university during reign of the 37th Abbasid caliph, Mustansir Billah.
The Abbasid Palace was built in the same time and in the same architectural style as the Mustansiriyah School. The palace overlooks the Tigris River.
The Murjaniya School was originally constructed in 1357, but it was demolished in the early 1900's to be replaced with a mosque, known today as the Marjan Mosque.
Khan Murjan was originally designed as an inn for travelling merchants, and the dwelling place of many university scholars. It was built in the 14th century, and has a central hall more than 45 feet high. The crenellated arches of brick and perforated windows make it a fascinating piece of architecture. The Khan Murjan was reputedly in a state of disrepair for more than 200 years, with waist-high flood water from the Tigris standing in the famous hallway several times. By the mid-1980's it had been restored and was in use as a restaurant.
The Al-Khadhimain Mosque is one of the most important mosques in the Islamic world, with gold-capped domes and minarets rising above its courtyard. The mosque was built on the site of the shrines of the imams Musa al-Kadhim and Muhammed al-Jawad, who are supposed to be descendants of the Prophet. The building dates from the early 16th century.
Tahrir Square, on the river's left bank at one end of the Jumhuriyah Bridge, is the heart of Baghdad from which the city's main streets radiate.
Firdos Square is the location of two of Baghdad's best-known hotels, the Palestine Hotel and the Sheraton Ishtar, which are also two of the city's tallest buildings. The statue of Saddam Hussein that was pulled down by U.S. soldiers in 2003 used to stand there.
The neighborhood of A'ẓamiyyah is a mostly Sunni area. The mosque there is associated with the Sunni Imam Abu Hanifa, whose title of al-Imām al-A'ẓam (the Great Imam) is the namesake for the neighborhood.
The Al-Bataween and At-Turat districts form baghdad's Jewish quarter. Many of the historic houses there used to have Jewish owners. The Great Synagogue of Baghdad, Meir Taweig Synagogue and the Al-Habibiyah Jewish Cemetery are all located there.
Baghdad Zoo used to be the largest zoological park in the Middle East. Within a week after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, only 35 of the 650 animals in the zoo survived. Some animals were slaughtered to be used as food, while others starved, as nobody continued to take care of them.

Museums

The National Museum of Iraq is situated in the Karkh district. It has 28 galleries, making it the largest museum in the Middle East. Exhibitions cover a time-span from 100,000 years ago to well into the Islamic period. One of its most fascinating exhibits used to be a 10,000-year-old pebble with twelve deep scratches on its surface, which was thought to be one of the world's first calendars. Also, a Sumerian seal dating from about 5,000 years ago, showed the first pictorial representation of two people shaking hands. Some of the objects displayed in this museum were reproductions. The originals were removed by conquering nations to be displayed in foreign museums. Most of the museum's artifacts were looted during the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
The Baghdad Museum contains life-size models of the traditional life of Baghdad presented in tableau form.
The Museum of Popular Heritage, where a collection of traditional old Baghdadi houses can be seen. It also contains displays of traditional crafts, such as basketwork, carpets, woodwork and metalwork.
The Museum of Pioneer Arts is a 1922-built Baghdadi house, with rooms constructed around a central courtyard containing a fountain. It is furnished with traditional old Baghdadi furniture and has an interesting collection of paintings on display.
Modern arts can be seen in the Arts Centre.

al-Rusafa

The al-Rusafa neighborhood is Baghdad's old quarter. If features numerous landmarks, such as Qushla Square near the bank of the Tigris river. Mutanabbi Street, Abbasid-era palace, several bridges, Ottoman-era mosques to the Mustansariyah Madrasa are all located near Qushla. The square itself features a clock tower that was donated by George V.
Al-Rasheed Street is one of the most significant landmarks in Baghdad. Located in al-Rusafa area, the street has always been an artistic, intellectual and cultural center for many locals. There used to be many theaters and nightclubs.
There are numerous cafés on Al-Rasheed Street, as well as countless beautiful buildings that were inspired by Renaissance architecture. Examples of the famous Iraqi shanasheel (protuding window enclosed with carved wood latticework) can also be seen there.
The ancient Haydar-Khana Mosque is also on Al-Rasheed Street.
Mutanabbi Street is close to Al-Rasheed Street. It has traditionally been the center of Baghdadi book-selling and there are countless book stores and outdoor book stalls. The street got its name from the 10th-century Iraqi poet Al-Mutanabbi.

Baghdad is the center of air, road, and railroad transportation in Iraq. It is the leading manufacturing city of the country, with oil refineries, food-processing plants, tanneries, and textile mills. Among the handcrafted wares produced in Baghdad are cloth, household utensils, jewelry, leather goods, felt, and rugs, which may be purchased in the bazaars that consist of rows of small shops or stalls and have long been a feature of the city. Baghdad has numerous hotels and restaurants.

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