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Erbil

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Erbil, also known as Hawler, is a major city in Iraq. It serves as the capital of the Erbil Governorate. It is also the capital of the Kurdistan Region.

Postcard of the city of Erbil, 1900
Postcard of the city of Erbil, 1900

The city is a vital hub for many different sectors. It acts as a center for medicine, education, and industry. It is also a major economic and cultural heart for the region. Erbil is recognized as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth.

Erbil mail square
Erbil mail square

The history of Erbil is deeply connected to the development of Mesopotamia. Human settlement in this area may date back to the 5th millennium BC. The city has changed names many times throughout history. The Sumerians called the city Urbilum. In the ancient Greek language, it was known as Arbela. The Latin name was also Arbela. Later, the name Erbil became the official English translation of the Ottoman Turkish name.

Clock of Erbil
Clock of Erbil

Many different empires have controlled the city over thousands of years. The earliest historical references come from the Third Dynasty of Ur of Sumer. King Shulgi mentioned the city of Urbilum in his records. The Assyrians eventually conquered the region. In the 3rd millennium BC, Erbil functioned as an independent power. Later, the Gutians conquered the city for a time. The city was also part of the Median and Achaemenid Empires.

Postcard of the city of Erbil, 1900
Postcard of the city of Erbil, 1900

Erbil saw many shifts in power during classical antiquity. It was part of the Macedonian and Seleucid Empires. The city also fell under the rule of the Armenian and Parthian Empires. It was part of the Roman and Sasanian Empires as well. Between the mid-second century BC and early 2nd century AD, it was the capital of the tributary state of Adiabene. During this era, the city's patron deity was Ishtar of Arbela.

قه لا ى هه ولير
قه لا ى هه ولير

The religious history of the city is also very complex. The populace gradually moved from ancient Mesopotamian religions to Christianity. Pkidha is traditionally considered the city's first bishop around 104 AD. The city later became a center for eastern Syriac Christianity. Following the Muslim conquest of Persia, the region saw a gradual influx of Arab and Turkic peoples. By the 13th century, historical records described the city as being mostly Kurdish-populated.

The patriarchate of the Assyrian Church of the East in Erbil
The patriarchate of the Assyrian Church of the East in Erbil

The city has faced many periods of conflict and siege. In the 13th century, the Mongols invaded the Near East. They attacked Erbil for the first time in 1237. After the fall of Baghdad in 1258, the Mongols returned to Erbil. They captured the Citadel after a siege that lasted six months. This period brought significant changes to the local population. Later, the city was ruled by the Seljuk and Ottoman empires during the Middle Ages.

Archaeology is a major part of life in Erbil today. The ancient Citadel of Erbil sits at the heart of the city.

قه لا ى هه ولير
قه لا ى هه ولير

In July 2014, the Citadel was named a World Heritage Site. Researchers use ground penetrating radar to study the center of the Citadel. In 2014, an Iraqi-led excavation began after a modern building collapsed. This provided a new opportunity to study the site. The Erbil Plain Archaeological Survey also uses satellite imagery to study the surrounding area.

One of the halls of the Erbil Civilization Museum displaying Mesopotamian artifacts from the Urartian, Hurrian, and Hatra periods
One of the halls of the Erbil Civilization Museum displaying Mesopotamian artifacts from the Urartian, Hurrian, and Hatra periods

Many important artifacts are preserved in local museums. The Erbil Civilization Museum houses a large collection of pre-Islamic items. These include art from the various periods of Mesopotamia. The museum is a central point for many archaeological projects in the region. In 2014, the Arab Council of Tourism named Erbil the Arab Tourism Capital. This title highlights the city's importance as a destination for visitors. The city continues to connect its ancient past to the modern world.

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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:Siège d'Irbil 1258-1259.jpeg
Siège d'Irbil 1258-1259.jpeg
File:Kurdistan1920.png
Kurdistan1920.png
File:Postcard of the city of Erbil, 1900.jpg
Postcard of the city of Erbil, 1900.jpg
File:Erbil mail square.JPG
Erbil mail square.JPG
File:The patriarchate of the Assyrian Church of the East in Erbil.jpg
The patriarchate of the Assyrian Church...
File:Clock of Erbil.jpg
Clock of Erbil.jpg
File:قه_لا_ى_هه_ولير.jpg
قه_لا_ى_هه_ولير.jpg
File:One of the halls of the Erbil Civilization Museum displaying Mesopotamian artifacts from the Urartian, Hurrian, and Hatra periods.jpg
One of the halls of the Erbil...
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