Mesopotamia: Iraq's ancient name. One of Earth’s oldest buddies with the first cities. Think: Baghdad.

Cool Fact: Ever heard of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? A stellar garden and one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world!

Cultural Evolution: Arab invasion in the 7th century AD = Iraqis speaking Arabic and being like, "Hey, we're Muslims now!"

Ottoman Era: The Ottomans were the big bosses of Iraq from the 16th century.

Oil, Oil, Everywher

• The British (and some European buddies) were giving side-eyes to Iraq. Why? The slick and slippery OIL. A liquid gold rush!

• Oil discovery near Iraq = European interest. Imagine converting your car from regular gas to premium – that’s what the British navy was doing (coal → oil).

The WWI Drama

• Turkey (Ottomans) = Team Germany.

• British mission = Defeat Turkey, spread influence, and potentially get that oil.

• Map Check: Brits land in Basra (Psst! Where the oil was!).

• Timeline: By 1917 - Hello, Baghdad! 1918 - Mosul in the bag.

• Result? When the war curtain closed in 1918, the Brits were the stars of the Iraqi stage (controlling Basra, Baghdad, Mosul).

But wait! Plot Twist

• The Sykes–Picot Agreement. It’s like the secret pinky promise between Britain and France to split Turkey’s Arab lands.

• Iraq’s role? The Brits got the 'rights' to it.

• Treaty of Versailles: Basically told Iraq, "You're with the Brits now. Until you're ready to fly solo."