Governorate of Baghdad
Historical Background
Governorate of Baghdad is the capital of the Republic
of Iraq. It is situated on the Tigris River. It is the biggest
city in Iraq; the second biggest city in the Arab world after
Cairo, and the second biggest city in Western Asia, after
Tehran, the capital of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Baghdad is an important point as roads, air, and trains
cross at it. It is regarded as the economic,
administrative, commercial and educational center and
the headquarter of the government of Iraq.
Baghdad has been the most important center of the various sciences
in the world. It had been the meeting spot of scholars and learners for
many centuries. Baghdad has several names, such as, Al-Mudawarrah (the
Circular), Al-Zawra (the Deviated), and Dar Ul-Salam (House of Peace). Tigris
River passes through the city, dividing it into two halves: Karkh (Western part) and Rusafa
(Eastern part).
Baghdad has a lot of historical and civilization sites, most important of which is AlMustansiriyah School, ancient Islamic mosques, and the National Museum which embraces
the most important Arab and Babylonian antiques. Baghdad has also a number of the religious
shrines.
 Area: 4.555 sq km.
 Main cities
Rusafa Constituency, Kadhimiyah Constituency, A'adhamiyah Constituency, Al-Sadr
Constituency (1), Al-Sadr Constituency (2), Madaien Constituency, Abu Ghraib
Constituency, Mahmoudiyah Constituency,
Taji Constituency, Tarmiyah
Constituency.
Bridges in Baghdad:
Muthanna Bridge, Aa'ima Bridge,
14th of Ramadhan Bridge, Iron
Bridge, Bab Al-Muadham Bridge,
Shuhada Bridge, Ahrar Bridge,
Sinak Bridge, Jumhuria Bridge,
14th of July Bridge, Jadria Bridge,
Hasanain Bridge, Dora Bridge.
Population density
Inhabitants of Baghdad are approximately (7.596.860), seven million, and five hundred ninety
six thousand, eight hundred sixty person according to 2013 statistics. Almost 83% of the
inhabitants of the capital are concentrated in the City of Baghdad itself, while 17% of them
reside in its Constituencies and outskirts.
These data shows that the density within the municipal boundaries of the city is extremely
high. This high density requires more and more housing complexes and other various
economic activities.
 Main activities
The most important activities at the Governorate of Baghdad are concentrated in the
following fields:
Oil refine, light industries, financial services, food manufacturing, tobacco, furniture,
printing, construction, chemical and plastic material production, and electric devices.
Economy at a Glance
The capital Baghdad is regarded the center of the main and commercial activities. The main
important oil industries are concentrated in it. Among these industries is Eastern Baghdad oil
field which includes the biggest fixed reservations, in addition to many innovated and
traditional industries among which are leather, textile, cement, and tobacco industries.
Baghdad, as well, is a central and crucial center of financial and banking exchanges through
its financial and banking sector (state and private). The most important specialized
universities, schools, specialized institutes, state and private hospitals are located at it, in
addition to a wide net of roads, international and local transport lines.
 Infrastructures
- There is a wide net of main roads and highways which link the capital to its south, north,
east, and west. Among the most important of these is the international highway which
links Baghdad to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, in addition to the international way
which links Basra to Turkey through Zakho in the north and passes through Baghdad, the
capital.
- There are a number of important railway lines which link north Iraq to its south. There is,
for instance, (Baghdad- Mosul) and (Baghdad- Basra) railways.
- There is also one of the most important airports (Baghdad International Airport), which is
located at the southern part of Baghdad, 16 km away from the center of the city. In
addition, there is a net of land roads which link Baghdad, the capital, to the international
lines, such as, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, Turkey, and Syria.
 Education
Baghdad has four Universities, Baghdad University (est. 1957), Mustansiriyah University
(est. 1963), Technology University (est. 1974), and Nahrain University (est. 1980). There is
also the Technical Institutes Foundation (est. 1969) which turned to be (Technical Teaching
Commission) in 2001. There are number of private Universities and Colleges all over the
city, in addition, there are almost 2.100 primary schools, 1074 secondary schools, and a
number of technical and training institutes.
 Tourist sites
Baghdad has many museums, most important of which are the National Iraqi Museum
which exhibit the antique treasures of Mesopotamia Civilization, Baghdadi Museum for
Folklore Arts. It has numerous mosques, religious shrines, churches, and cathedrals.
1. Mustansiriyah School: This had been
the most important university in the
Islamic world during the Abbasid era.
It had gained a wide reputation in
teaching Arabic language; Theology,
Astronomy, Mathematics, Medicine,
Pharmacology, as well as it had its
own university hospital to train its
students.
Historically speaking, Mustansiriyah School had been famous for its watch which had
been functioning astronomically; in addition to pointing time, it depicted locations of
sun and moon at any time.
2. Abbasid Palace: One of the important buildings in
Baghdad traced back to the second Abbasid era. It is
situated near Bab Al-Mua'dhan, on the River bank.
Historians assign its building to the Caliph Al-Nasir
Li Deen Illah (575- 623 A. H./ 1179- 1225 A. D.).
3. Murjaniyah School: Murjaniyah School which is
known today as Jami' Murjan is situated at Shorja
quarter, Rasheed street. It had been named so after
Ameen Al-Deen Murjan who had built it in 758 A.
H./ 1357 A. D., i. e., almost a hundred year after the
Abbasid era. In its early stages, it had been similar to
the Mustansiriyah School, as it had classrooms and a
dormitory department.
4. Baghdad fence and its gates: It is one of the most
striking features of Baghdad. Its walls had been
building circularly; its four gates deviate with 90
degrees for defensive purposes. Administrative and
religious buildings were at the city center so as people
may reach them easily.
5. Aqarquf: This is an important historical city. It is
one of the cities which were built according to
Sumerian- Babylonian architectural concepts. It is
situated on 30 km west northwards of the city
center. Its building age traces back to the 15th
century B. C. according to an Order by the King
Qurikalzo after whom it had been named.
Aqarquf had been built on a prolonged scheme on
natural limestone. The city was taking its water
from a branch of the River Euphrates (Baiti
Inleel), i. e., God Canal, according to the Babylonian naming. People dedicated for this
God the city biggest temple. It is the creative God and God of air.
The most immanent thing one can see is the city Ziggurat, as it elevates to 57 meters
above the plain surrounds it while the base was rectangular.
6. Madaien: This is one of the important historical
cities the ruins of which erect on the eastern bank
of the river Tigris, 30 km southwards the center of
Baghdad. It was built during the 2nd century B. C.
Its most prominent features are its high arch, a
part of a huge palace on the River Tigris. Its
building time goes back to the middle of the 3rd
century A. D. This Arch is the biggest and highest
brick built Arch all over the world. Its building
design had been developed from genuine Iraqi
style of architecture. Iwan (Hall) idea had been developed from the ancient Iraqi
buildings. Cities' entrances frontages and some Assyrian palaces provide clear order of
the development of the idea of Iwan.