A Biblical and A Biblical and Historical Perspective Historical Perspective

on Iraqon Iraq

Map of Iraq Map of Iraq (in the present time)(in the present time)

Sumerian, Babylon and Assyria Sumerian, Babylon and Assyria areaarea

(map of Iraq in the old (map of Iraq in the old era)era)

Sumerian CivilizationSumerian Civilization About 6200-6500 years ago there About 6200-6500 years ago there

was a civilization located was a civilization located between two great rivers: Tigris between two great rivers: Tigris and Euphrates. That area is and Euphrates. That area is

called called MesopotamiaMesopotamia..

Mesopotamia was famous because Mesopotamia was famous because of the Geographic location. The of the Geographic location. The city was perfect place to irrigate city was perfect place to irrigate the land and raise productive the land and raise productive crops, as well as domesticate crops, as well as domesticate sheep, goats and other animalssheep, goats and other animals..

There was a city called Ur, which is There was a city called Ur, which is now 250 miles from the capital now 250 miles from the capital Baghdad, is still existed until this Baghdad, is still existed until this dayday..

Ur is known in the Bible as Ur of the Ur is known in the Bible as Ur of the Chaldees, refers to the Chaldeans Chaldees, refers to the Chaldeans (who settled the area about 900 (who settled the area about 900 B.C). It was known as the city of B.C). It was known as the city of Sumerian civilization and home of Sumerian civilization and home of AbrahamAbraham..

Sumerian CivilizationSumerian Civilization

One of the temples ,which is still One of the temples ,which is still standing till now is called Ziggurat standing till now is called Ziggurat (built before more than 4000 years), (built before more than 4000 years), was a piece of temple complex. was a piece of temple complex. People thought that the dwelling of People thought that the dwelling of the moon god, serves as a tool to the moon god, serves as a tool to bridge the distance between the sky bridge the distance between the sky and the earth. The height 100 feet, and the earth. The height 100 feet, and the base is 210 feet by 150 feet and the base is 210 feet by 150 feet on trapezoidal baseon trapezoidal base . .

First writing in the world was First writing in the world was invented by Sumerian, which called invented by Sumerian, which called the cuneiform writingthe cuneiform writing..

Ziggurat in City of UrZiggurat in City of Ur

Bible wordsBible words

Genesis Chapter 11:27-32Genesis Chapter 11:27-32First Abram born and lived in First Abram born and lived in Ur of Ur of the Chaldeansthe Chaldeans with his father, with his father, and his wife Sarai, and then and his wife Sarai, and then went to Canaan. But when they went to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled came to Haran, they settled there. (11:31)there. (11:31)..

Civilization of BabylonCivilization of BabylonAlso, other civilization located in the Also, other civilization located in the same area of Mesopotamia is called same area of Mesopotamia is called Babel ( 63 miles south of Baghdad), Babel ( 63 miles south of Baghdad), at year 2100 before B.C. by king at year 2100 before B.C. by king called Hamorabi, the civilization in his called Hamorabi, the civilization in his years called the golden years. The years called the golden years. The first law in the world was done by this first law in the world was done by this Babylon kingBabylon king . .

Suspended garden was constructed to Suspended garden was constructed to a height of more than 295 feet, and a height of more than 295 feet, and was provided with eight huge gates, was provided with eight huge gates, and this civilization was the expanded and this civilization was the expanded from the Sumerian civilizationfrom the Sumerian civilization..

Between year 606-536 B.C, Between year 606-536 B.C, Babylon kingdom was a great Babylon kingdom was a great and powerful civilization; and powerful civilization; therefore it control all the therefore it control all the surrounding area starting from surrounding area starting from Perish from the east and Turkey Perish from the east and Turkey from north, and reached Egypt to from north, and reached Egypt to the west, and down to Saudi the west, and down to Saudi ArabiaArabia . .

Civilization of BabylonCivilization of Babylon

Bible wordsBible words

Genesis Chapter 10:11-23Genesis Chapter 10:11-23

Some of clans of Noah's sons , Some of clans of Noah's sons , the first kingdom were in the first kingdom were in Babylon, Ereck, Akkad, and Babylon, Ereck, Akkad, and Caneh in ShinarCaneh in Shinar. (10:10), and . (10:10), and some of them were built and some of them were built and lived in lived in Nineveh and CalahNineveh and Calah, that , that is the great city. (10:12)is the great city. (10:12)..

Genesis Chapter 11:1-9Genesis Chapter 11:1-9Babylon TowerBabylon Tower. The Lord came . The Lord came down to see the city and the down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. tower that the men were building. (11-5). Come let us go down and (11-5). Come let us go down and confused their language so they confused their language so they will not understand each other. will not understand each other. (11:7)(11:7) . .

So the Lord scattered them from So the Lord scattered them from there over the earth, and they there over the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is stopped building the city. That is why it was called why it was called BabelBabel. (11:8-9). (11:8-9)..

2Chronicles Chapter 36:5-212Chronicles Chapter 36:5-21Nebuchadnezzar king of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon Babylon attack Jehoiakim who was king attack Jehoiakim who was king of Jerusalemof Jerusalem..

Jeremiah Chapters 50, 51, and Jeremiah Chapters 50, 51, and 5252This is the word the Lord spoke This is the word the Lord spoke through Jeremiah the prophet through Jeremiah the prophet concerning concerning Babylon and the Babylon and the land of the Babyloniansland of the Babylonians. (50:1). (50:1)..

Ezekiel Chapters 12, 17, 34, Ezekiel Chapters 12, 17, 34, 24, 26, 29 and 3024, 26, 29 and 30

Land of Land of BabylonBabylon..

Daniel Chapters 1 to 9Daniel Chapters 1 to 9

In the third year of the In the third year of the Jehoiakim king of Judah, Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Nebuchadnezzar king of BabylonBabylon came to Jerusalem came to Jerusalem and besieged it. (1:1-21)and besieged it. (1:1-21)..

Ancient monuments of Ancient monuments of BabylonBabylon

Civilization of AssyrianCivilization of Assyrian

Another civilization in the north Another civilization in the north of Iraq called Assyrian (about of Iraq called Assyrian (about 300 miles north of Baghdad), 300 miles north of Baghdad), was from the same Chaldeean was from the same Chaldeean groups, this civilization was groups, this civilization was starting during the third starting during the third millennium B.C and the city millennium B.C and the city called Nineveh taken as a called Nineveh taken as a capital at a year of 1080 B.Ccapital at a year of 1080 B.C..

Civilization of AssyrianCivilization of AssyrianGenesis Chapter 10:11-23Genesis Chapter 10:11-23Some of clans of Noah's sons, the Some of clans of Noah's sons, the first kingdom were in first kingdom were in Babylon, Babylon, Ereck, Akkad, and Caneh in ShinarEreck, Akkad, and Caneh in Shinar. . (10:10), and some of them were (10:10), and some of them were built and lived in built and lived in Nineveh and Nineveh and CalahCalah, that is the great city. (10:12), that is the great city. (10:12)

22 Kings Chapters 18 and 19Kings Chapters 18 and 19 Assyria, locate north of Iraq Assyria, locate north of Iraq (Nineveh)(Nineveh) war between king of war between king of Israel and king of AssyriaIsrael and king of Assyria..

Bible wordsBible words

Isaiah Chapters 36, 37, 38 and 39Isaiah Chapters 36, 37, 38 and 39 Sennacherib king of Sennacherib king of Assyria Assyria attack attack all the fortified cities of Judah and all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. captured them. Isaiah (36:1-10)Isaiah (36:1-10)..

Then Isaiah the prophet went to Then Isaiah the prophet went to king of Hezekiah and asked what king of Hezekiah and asked what did those men say, and where did did those men say, and where did they come from? From a distance they come from? From a distance land , Hezezkiah replied they came land , Hezezkiah replied they came to me from to me from BabylonBabylon. . Isaiah(39:3)Isaiah(39:3)..

Bible wordsBible words

Jonah Chapters 1 to 4Jonah Chapters 1 to 4The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: go to the great city of Amittai: go to the great city of NinevehNineveh (north of Baghdad-Iraq) and preach against (north of Baghdad-Iraq) and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up it, because its wickedness has come up before me. (1:1)before me. (1:1)..

Nahum Chapters 1 to 3Nahum Chapters 1 to 3An oracle concerning An oracle concerning NinevehNineveh. The book of the . The book of the vision of Nahum the vision of Nahum the ElkoshiteElkoshite.(1:1) Elkoshite .(1:1) Elkoshite is taken from city called is taken from city called ElkoshElkosh now is a now is a small city located outside the Nineveh small city located outside the Nineveh (south of Baghdad-Iraq) of about 25 mile(south of Baghdad-Iraq) of about 25 mile . .

Bible wordsBible words

Zephaniah Chapter 2Zephaniah Chapter 2He will stretch out his hand against He will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy the north and destroy Assyria, Assyria, leaving Ninevehleaving Nineveh utterly desolate utterly desolate and dry as the desert. (2:12)and dry as the desert. (2:12) . .

Zechariah Chapter 10Zechariah Chapter 10I will bring them back from Egypt I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from and gather them from AssyriaAssyria. . (10:10)(10:10)

Ancient monuments of Ancient monuments of AssyrianAssyrian

Ancient monuments of Ancient monuments of AssyrianAssyrian

Christianity in IraqChristianity in IraqIn the first century A.C. the city of In the first century A.C. the city of Nineveh became connection point Nineveh became connection point between Iraq, Syria and area of Great between Iraq, Syria and area of Great Sea (Mede train Sea). In the first Sea (Mede train Sea). In the first century (A.C.) and from Nineveh, the century (A.C.) and from Nineveh, the Syrian and Palestrina Christianity Syrian and Palestrina Christianity starting in spread in the north and all starting in spread in the north and all others cities of Iraq, in the third others cities of Iraq, in the third century (A.C.) the Christianity century (A.C.) the Christianity became religion for the most Iraq became religion for the most Iraq peoplespeoples . .

Aramaic and Roman books references Aramaic and Roman books references stated the followers of apostle Thomas stated the followers of apostle Thomas preached the Christianity in the north and preached the Christianity in the north and then middle and south of Iraq, and first then middle and south of Iraq, and first church was built at year of 82 (AC) in a church was built at year of 82 (AC) in a city called COOKHE behind Al MADAIN city called COOKHE behind Al MADAIN (city located south of Baghdad distance (city located south of Baghdad distance about 20 miles), this church became about 20 miles), this church became larger and larger and then named The larger and larger and then named The Iraqi Christianity Reference, officially Iraqi Christianity Reference, officially named BABYLON Churchnamed BABYLON Church..

After the Christianity became a high After the Christianity became a high name in the area of Iraq and shared name in the area of Iraq and shared the churches in Syria ( for example: the churches in Syria ( for example: unity agreement about Easter unity agreement about Easter celebration day in 189-199 A.C.), celebration day in 189-199 A.C.), Persian’s kings and with abet by Persian’s kings and with abet by Jewish peoples who were residents in Jewish peoples who were residents in the area, were afraid that the the area, were afraid that the Christianity will threat their authority Christianity will threat their authority specially when the Christianity reach specially when the Christianity reach China, India and most parts in Arab China, India and most parts in Arab DesertDesert . .

Therefore, in the fourth century Therefore, in the fourth century ( 339-379) A.C., and through 40 ( 339-379) A.C., and through 40 years, Persians kings killed about years, Persians kings killed about 160000 Christians peoples in the 160000 Christians peoples in the north of Iraq and more than 30000 north of Iraq and more than 30000 in the southin the south . .

But the faithful people in But the faithful people in Christianity continued to preach Christianity continued to preach about the gospel and they built 50 about the gospel and they built 50 Christian schools in the Ninth Christian schools in the Ninth century, and also teach all century, and also teach all different sciences beside the different sciences beside the ChristianityChristianity..

Aramaic LanguageAramaic Language

The Aramaic language is the Semitic The Aramaic language is the Semitic language from the beginning of the language from the beginning of the history and it is the language of history and it is the language of Jesus. Most of the chapters in old Jesus. Most of the chapters in old and new testament are written by and new testament are written by Aramaic languageAramaic language..

Aramaic language was used in the Aramaic language was used in the official education and in public official education and in public

language in that timelanguage in that time , ,

and was used in all east area of the and was used in all east area of the Great sea starting from north of Iraq, Great sea starting from north of Iraq, north of Syria, middle of Syria, north of Syria, middle of Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and north of Lebanon, Palestine and north of Egypt. Later on, the Aramaic language Egypt. Later on, the Aramaic language divided into different dialects between divided into different dialects between the East of Euphrates river in Iraq and the East of Euphrates river in Iraq and the west area in Syria, and this the west area in Syria, and this became the base or the root of the became the base or the root of the Aramaic languageAramaic language..

As mentioned above, The Aramaic As mentioned above, The Aramaic language was used as an official language was used as an official language in trades, sciences and language in trades, sciences and educations in many eastern educations in many eastern empires. Moreover, Aramaic empires. Moreover, Aramaic language was used in writing language was used in writing contracts, laws, codes and in contracts, laws, codes and in protocol, because it was clear, protocol, because it was clear, correct and easy in readingcorrect and easy in reading..