Iraq: flag, capital, currency and history

Flag of Iraq

Download the flag of Iraq as a scalable SVG or as a PNG in three sizes. The flag emoji is 🇮🇶.

History of Iraq

Iraq corresponds largely to ancient Mesopotamia, where Sumerian city-states arose in the fourth millennium BC, followed by the Akkadian, Babylonian and Assyrian empires. After the Arab Muslim conquest in the 7th century, Baghdad was founded in 762 and became the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. The Mongols sacked the city in 1258, and the Ottoman Empire later ruled the region from the 16th century. Britain governed Iraq under a League of Nations mandate after the First World War. Iraq became an independent kingdom in 1932 and a republic in 1958.

Key dates

1. c. 3500 BCSumerian city-states such as Uruk emerge in southern Mesopotamia.
2. 762The Abbasid caliph al-Mansur founds Baghdad.
3. 1258Mongol forces capture and sack Baghdad.
4. 1920Britain is granted a mandate over Iraq.
5. 1932The Kingdom of Iraq becomes independent and joins the League of Nations.
6. 1958The monarchy is overthrown and Iraq is declared a republic.
7. 2003A United States-led invasion removes the government of Saddam Hussein.

A short overview, not a full history. Dates are given for well-documented events only.

Currency of Iraq

Iraq uses the Iraqi dinar (IQD, ع.د). Use our free currency converter to check exchange rates.

Festivals and greetings in Iraq

Celebrations observed in Iraq, with free greeting images and wishes you can personalise.

Nowruz

All greeting images for Iraq · Festival calendar

Frequently asked questions

Neighbours of Iraq

IranTehranJordanAmmanKuwaitKuwait CitySaudi ArabiaRiyadhSyriaDamascusTürkiyeAnkara

More countries in Western Asia

ArmeniaYerevanAzerbaijanBakuBahrainManamaGeorgiaTbilisiIsraelJerusalemJordanAmmanKuwaitKuwait CityLebanonBeirut