Iraq Kirkuk History: An Overview of the City's Rich and Diverse History
Kirkuk, located in northern Iraq, is a city with a rich and diverse history. It is believed to have been inhabited since the 6th millennium BC, and has been home to a variety of cultures throughout its long history. The city has been ruled by the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Ottomans, and British. Today, it is a vibrant and diverse city, with a population of around 1.2 million people.
The earliest known inhabitants of Kirkuk were the Assyrians, who ruled the city from around 2000 BC to 612 BC. During this period, the city was known as Arrapkha, and was a major center of trade and commerce. It was also an important religious center, and was home to several temples dedicated to the gods of the Assyrian pantheon.
In 612 BC, the Babylonians conquered the city, and it became known as Karkha. The Babylonians ruled the city until 539 BC, when it was conquered by the Persian Empire. Under Persian rule, the city was known as Karka, and it became an important center of learning and culture.
During the Hellenistic period, the city was known as Karkha D'Hatra, and was part of the Seleucid Empire. In 126 BC, the city was conquered by the Romans, and it became known as Carce. The city was an important trading center during this period, and was home to a large Jewish population.
In 637 AD, the city was conquered by the Arabs, and it became known as Karkh. The city was part of the Abbasid Caliphate, and it remained under Arab rule until the Ottomans conquered it in 1534. During this period, the city was known as Kerkuk, and it became an important center of trade and culture.
In 1917, the city was occupied by the British, and it remained under British control until 1932. During this period, the city was known as Kirkuk, and it was an important center of oil production. After the British withdrawal, the city was annexed by Iraq, and it has remained part of the country ever since.
Kirkuk is a city with a long and diverse history. It has been home to many different cultures over the centuries, and it is an important center of trade and culture in Iraq today. Its rich history is a testament to its resilience, and it is a city that has survived and thrived despite its turbulent past.