Banking on Baghdad

Banking on Baghdad traces Iraq's history from ancient Mesopotamia through the modern era, focusing on how foreign powers have sought to control and exploit the region's resources. The book examines major empires, rulers, and conflicts that shaped Iraq's development over thousands of years. Black documents the strategic and economic forces that drove Western involvement in Iraq during the 19th and 20th centuries. The narrative covers the Ottoman Empire's decline, British colonial rule, the discovery of oil, and Iraq's emergence as an independent nation. The complex relationship between Iraq's natural wealth and its political instability stands at the center of this historical account. Military interventions, economic sanctions, and international power struggles form key elements of Iraq's modern story. This sweeping history reveals patterns of foreign intervention and resource exploitation that continue to influence Iraq's position in global affairs. The book argues that understanding Iraq's past is essential for comprehending its present challenges and future prospects.

Readers describe Banking on Baghdad as a detailed chronological history that reveals Iraq's economic and political complexities. Multiple reviewers note Black's research depth and documentation. Likes: - Clear explanation of Iraq's oil industry development - Connection of historical events to modern conflicts - Extensive source citations and bibliography - Coverage of lesser-known historical periods Dislikes: - Dense writing style with excessive detail - Anti-British bias noted by several readers - Some sections become repetitive - Limited coverage of cultural aspects Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (118 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (54 ratings) Review quotes: "Reads like a textbook rather than narrative history" - Goodreads reviewer "Strong on facts but weak on analysis" - Amazon reviewer "The oil industry coverage alone makes it worth reading" - LibraryThing user The book maintains consistent 3-4 star ratings across review platforms, with readers valuing its historical depth while critiquing its academic tone.

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🏦 The book took four years to research and compile, drawing from over 100,000 documents and records from multiple countries. 🏺 Baghdad was once the world's richest city and scientific center during the Islamic Golden Age (8th-13th centuries), which the book explores in detail. 🛢️ Author Edwin Black discovered that by 1914, British interests controlled 80% of Iraq's oil resources through the Turkish Petroleum Company, years before Iraq officially became a British mandate. 📚 Black is known for extensively documenting corporate complicity with historical atrocities - his book "IBM and the Holocaust" revealed IBM's role in Nazi Germany's systematic persecution of Jews. 🗺️ The book traces Iraq's history across 7,000 years, from Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon through modern times, making it one of the most comprehensive single-volume histories of the region.