Ages 9 to 14 years. The modern nation of Iraq occupies the ancient land of Mesopotamia, where the world‚s first known civilisation began. From the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, where these first peoples settled, to the mountain communities of the north, and deserts of the south, this book explores a timeless landscape scarred by a history of war and conquest. Topics include: the unrest between Iraq and its neighbouring countries for Iraq‚s rich oil fields, and the conflicts between ethnic and religious groups; the excavation of artefacts dating from the Sumerian times from the ancient cities of Ur and Neneveh; the buried city of Babylon, and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world; the trade, industry, and farming of Iraqi modern cities such as Baghdad, Mosul, and Basra.