Baghdad - the capital of what country? Baghdad: information about the city, attractions, description

The city, which is located in the heart of the Ancient East, which now rises above the ruins of the world's oldest monuments of architecture, is Baghdad. The capital of Iraq, translated into Russian, sounds like a "Gift of God". And indeed, being there, you understand that the atmosphere, every street and square, every building - everything has its own special aura, which seems to connect the farthest past and present, in which we live now.

General information about the city

In the deserts of Mesopotamia, on the banks of the Tigris biblical river , the huge city of Baghdad is now located. Which capital of the country can still please us with such an abundance of architectural and cultural monuments that have their roots in the distant past? Perhaps no. This city is located in the geographical center of the country, Iraq, in the valley of the two rivers, which the Bible itself mentions - the Tigris and the Euphrates. Besides the fact that the city is full of ancient architectural monuments, today it is also the main transport hub of the state. There are international airports, railway stations, as well as a reporter, from which, often along the Tigris, ships are sent to the waters of the Persian Gulf.

Ancient Baghdad: history, sights

It's no secret that the current capital of the eastern state of Iraq is built on the shards of an ancient civilization. It was here, in Mesopotamia, that the first communities appeared on the planet, which soon changed to cities and countries. The people who had previously inhabited these lands wore the name of the Sumerians. It is they who own the invention of the famous cuneiform tablets, through which the present archaeologists were able to restore many pages from the history of those times. Back in the 2nd millennium BC. E. In these territories Shumero-Akkadian kingdom was formed. The first ruler, which was mentioned in written sources, is Uruinimgina. Years and centuries passed, and gradually the most ancient people of the Earth (that is, Sumerians) began to die out. Mesopotamia was completely chosen by the Akkadians. According to their external data, they have much in common with modern Arabs, who now inhabit Baghdad. The capital that grew on these lands during their rule is known to the whole world, and its name is Babylon.

Kingdoms that still live

The center of the Babylonian kingdom, the eponymous city with its legendary tower, was built 100 kilometers from modern Baghdad. Megapolis of the Ancient World, which was equipped with an irrigation system, had a clear structure and a plan of streets and squares, which, by the way, were lit by torches. The city, which in those days was the largest port and center of shipbuilding, is now completely covered with sands of the East. In the territory of Babylon excavations are being conducted, thanks to which historians have already found out that the city has experienced three falls. It was rebuilt and literally resurrected from the ashes after numerous wars and raids. During his last era - the New Babylonian kingdom - the locals tried to get to God by building the famous tower. The outcome of the story is known to everyone, and now, apart from the foundation of this huge structure, we have nothing.

How the city of Baghdad appeared

The capital of which country was built on ashes and fragments of former civilizations ... And Iraq in this regard is no exception. This is one of the few cities that is very different from traditional Islamic settlements. He seemed to have absorbed the atmosphere of all those religions and traditions that reigned on his lands earlier. Thus, in 762, the city of Baghdad, which has survived to the present day, appears on the banks of the Tigris River. The art of Islam, it is worth noting, came to these lands much earlier, namely, for a hundred years. The city itself was built as a capital, which was to become the mainstay of a new religion, new traditions and rituals, which, in fact, it became. Officially, the founder of Baghdad is a Caliph Al-Mansour. Under his leadership, there were built the largest ports, fortresses, the army was going to. Throughout the 9th-10th centuries, Baghdad was not only the largest port of the Middle East, but also one of the most beautiful cities where people from all over the world came. In the 20th century, it was decided and officially recorded that the city of Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the cultural center of the entire Islamic world.

Climate and weather

Going on a tour to any new place, it is important to know initially what the weather expects you there. After all, the feeling of comfort during travel and travel is the most important thing, otherwise all the impressions will be spoiled. So, the capital of Iraq is Baghdad, a city that lies in a desert zone, in an area where very strong winds and droughts occur, and very rarely precipitations occur. Due to the fact that the city is located away from the sea, the climate here is a bit tropical, a bit continental. In winter, the air temperature can drop to 10 degrees in the daytime, and even up to 5 at night. In summer the sun is hot and the air warms up to +44 ^o C and above. December and January are the time when rains and fogs completely cover Baghdad. The capital of the entire Islamic world at that time is cold and damp, therefore it is not recommended to go here in winter. It is best to visit this city in the fall, when the heat drops, or in the spring, when the warm days are just beginning. As for the summer, then, besides the heat, there are also chasmines - sandstorms, which can be life-threatening.

The Legacy of Old Ages

Everyone knows that Baghdad is the capital of Iraq with a rich and uneasy fate. You can trace the history of the city by examining its architectural monuments, among which the predominant majority are mosques built in different epochs. The main one is the Golden Mosque of Musa al-Qadim, where there is a mausoleum. This architectural monument is located in the city center, so it will not be difficult to find it. No less beautiful Muslim temples are located outside the old part of the metropolis : the Bunny mosque and Ramadan, El-Kadimayn, Umm al-Mahar, Al-Jawaat, Al-Rahman and many others. Along with them there are mausoleums, in which rulers and figures of religion are buried. Christian monuments can also boast of Baghdad. Information about the city and its history contains the fact that Armenians and other residents of neighboring countries created their communities here on numerous occasions. Therefore, an important monument is the Church of the Holy Virgin Mary, as well as the Catholic Church of St. Thomas.

Modernity and its prints

Very original, original and non-standard modern Baghdad. The capital of the Iraqi state these days is a city with a lot of narrow, even streets, which are surrounded on all sides by adobe cottages. Notable feature also are noisy markets, where you can buy almost everything. Like all the capitals of the world, Baghdad boasts luxurious residences in which the most famous politicians lived. Among them we will single out the palace of Saddam Hussein Ar-Rihab, where today you can just get on an excursion. Along with him in the city there are eight more palaces that belonged to this ruler earlier, they are scattered in different areas. No less luxurious are the buildings of the Parliament and the Government of the country. Also in the capital of Iraq, there are many museums. Among them you can find a military, archaeological museum of ancient Arab artifacts, a museum of modern art and ethnographic. Their visit costs very little, and there are more than enough impressions.

Local kitchen

Knowing whose capital Baghdad, everyone can draw conclusions, albeit quite approximate, about what kind of food is here. In the city there are a lot of restaurants, quite decent, which can perfectly familiarize every visitor with Iraqi cuisine. The composition of dishes includes mainly lamb, veal, poultry, goat, but not pork. To meat appetizers can be added vegetables, most often steamed or marinated. A characteristic feature of the fact that a particular dish belongs precisely to the Iraqi cuisine is the presence of a huge amount of spices. Among the garnishes in Baghdad, you can find wheat or corn groats. Of the latter are often made cakes (very tasty), which are called "aysh". For dessert, be ready to get dates, halva or candied fruit. We also note that from drinks here either tea made on dried fruits or coffee is served. Milk is diluted with water, and alcohol can only find a traditional Iraqi drink - arak.

Entertainment in Baghdad

Despite the fact that this city is purely Islamic, and do not tolerate various liberties, you can still find entertainment for your soul. Luna parks, corners with wildlife, zoos, picturesque alleys and noisy markets - such a property is famous for Baghdad. The capital of Iran, Tehran, is also one of the centers of Muslim faith, but we note that in that city things are much more boring. Often tourists confuse these two countries, and they mistakenly believe that Iran will present them with more surprises, but in fact everything is just the opposite. Here you can relax with children, ride on attractions, taste local sweets, and after a stroll through one of the picturesque green avenues, surrounded by date palms. No less worthy way to have a great time will be going to the zoo. In Baghdad, the rarest and exotic inhabitants of tropical fauna are represented.

In conclusion, let's say ...

Not so gloomy, terrible and depressed, as we often describe it in the news, is actually the city of Baghdad. The capital of which state, where it is located and what is famous, is not known to everyone, but if you penetrate into its history, study traditions and at least once visit it, you can see the opposite. This is a real Islamic museum that combines the features of the ancient beliefs of the Arabs, and prints of modern events.