- Iraq is a country in the Middle East which has border with Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria. The capital is Baghdad.
- It was known as Mesopotamia in the Ancient World and was one of the six Cradles of Civilisation. The Tigris and the Euphrates run through Iraq to the Persian Gulf.
History
- Iraq was part of the Parthian Empire during the Roman Empire, and had its capital at Ctesiphon.
- The Roman Emperor Trajan (98-117 CE) briefly occupied Iraq in 115 CE and made it the Roman Province of Mesopotamia. But within two years Hadrian (117-138 CE) had returned it to Parthia.
Ctesiphon
- Ctesiphon was the capital of the Parthian Empire and of the later the Sassanid Empire between c.120 BCE to 637 CE.
- The Romans occupied Ctesiphon on six occasions during their Wars with the Parthian Empire.
Ctesiphon Arch at Taq Kasra, Iraq