Know the culture of Iraq - from Mesopotamian to modern - as this war-torn country returns to its traditional ways, emerging from years of strife, oppression, and devastation. Read about the Babylonians and Sumerians, witness the birth of Islam, and then explore present-day Iraq with its diverse ethnic groups, languages, festivals, and customs - both old and new. Ornate carpets and handicrafts, miniature paintings, Mesopotamian murals, ancient architecture, and modern buildings come alive in over forty full-color photographs. This book also gives you a glimpse of the society, and art and literature of Iraq, and even retells the ancient epic tale of Gilgamesh!