About Baghdad
Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, is the largest city in Iraq. With an estimated population of approximately 8,850,000, it is the second-largest city in the Arab world, after Cairo. It is located along the Tigris River and was established in the eighth century and became the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate. Over the following five centuries, Baghdad developed into the most important hub of Arab and Islamic culture. It was regarded as the "Center of Learning" at the time and was one of the largest cities in the world.For the most part of the Abbasid era, Baghdad was the biggest city in the Arab world. The Mongol Empire partially destroyed the city in 1258, and as a result, there was constant conflict and diseases, which caused the city to collapse over several centuries. Following Iraq's declaration of independence in 1938, Baghdad was once again regarded as a major center of Arab culture and learning.
With the rise of dictatorship and decades of war that ensued, followed by the struggle against terrorism, the city suffered great damage to its infrastructure and institutions. However, the city is recovering rapidly and now cafes along the Tigris River are once again humming with activity, nightlife has returned as families and couples and groups of friends enjoy the many parks and promenades along the waterfronts, savoring ice cream and fresh juices, while restaurants serve up dishes from around the world. Clubs and restaurants throb with social life until the early morning hours, and streets are jammed with cars on weekend nights as seemingly the entire city turns out to enjoy the cooler evening hours. Many restaurants stay open well past midnight as Iraqi groups and families enjoy late banquets and a vibrant social atmosphere. Malls proliferate across the city selling a wide array of products from around the world, providing air-conditioned oases during the hottest days. It is truly a completely different picture than what many people remember from just a few years ago.Similar to this, al-Mutanabbi Street, Baghdad's historic hub for intellectual activity, is once again teeming with readers and booksellers. Scholars cram the cafes, and readers are ready for books in a variety of languages. After years of neglect, universities are rebuilding and regenerating, a monument to the spiritual vibrancy and resilience of the Iraqi people. More than anything else, the resurgence of this Middle Eastern intellectual hub may represent the fortitude and tenacity of the Iraqi people.