This book presents a broad history of Iraq, from the earliest times to the present, with particular attention to the emergence of modern Iraq in the twentieth century, the power struggles that led to the rise of Saddam Hussein, and such recent events as the Iran-Iraq war, the 1990-91 Gulf crisis, and the continuing depiction of Iraq as a 'pariah' nation.

Iraq in the new world order. After the 1991 Gulf War -- The history of Iraq. The ancient crucible ; The Arabs, Islam and the Caliphate ; Seljuks, Mongols and Ottomans ; The western impact ; From Monarchy to Republic ; Into the era of Saddam -- Towards the new world order. War with the West.