Iraq History


The Kings: From Babylon To Baghdad – The History Of Iraq

The region now known as Iraq has always been, in many ways, world history’s ground zero. From this rich territory sprang the earliest cities and empires, earliest armies, and earliest tyrants.

The Kings: From Babylon To Baghdad tells the story of Iraq through the history of its rulers, from Sargon the Great to Saddam Hussein. This feature-length documentary explores the connections and relevance between ancient and modern Iraq and between Iraq and the rest of the planet.

Using dialogue drawn directly from primary sources – original texts of ancient records – it depicts events in dramatic, living reenactments. Lush cinematography filmed on location frames the dramatizations and contemporary reportage. And interviews with the world’s leading experts on the historical and current relevance of Iraq complete this authoritative portrait of the men who brought this fabled land glory and despair.

Today, as it has been many times in the past, understanding Iraq is central to the world’s well-being. This documentary offers a thorough, thought-provoking view into the politics, personalities, government, geography, culture and religion of this all-important region.

Further Reading:

Mieroop, M. (2007) A History of the Ancient Near East
Gill, A. (2010) Gateway of the Gods: The Rise and Fall of Babylon
Oates, J. (1986) Babylon

The Teaching Company: (

Between the Rivers: The History of Ancient Mesopotamia – Professor Alexis Castor Ph.D. – Franklin and Marshall College
Ancient Near Eastern Mythology – Professor Shalom Goldman Ph.D. – Emory University
Ancient Empires before Alexander – Professor Robert L. Dise Jr. Ph.D. – University of Northern Iowa
Great Ancient Civilizations of Asia Minor – Professor Kenneth W. Harl Ph.D. – Tulane University
Religion in the Ancient Mediterranean World – Professor Glenn S. Holland Ph.D. – Allegheny College
Cities of the Ancient World – Professor Steven L. Tuck Ph.D. – Miami University

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