Culture of Iraq
Because of the Ancient Mesopotamian civilizations, the cultural history of Iraq belongs to the world’s oldest. Iraq has famous poets, painters and sculptors which belong to the best in the Arab world.
Iraq is also known for the production of carpets. Architecture is best seen in Baghdad, where most of the buildings are rather new constructions, with some old buildings in between in excellent state.
In contradiction to other Arab countries, Iraq holds the achievements of its pre-Islamic past high. Once, the country known as Iraq today was the so-called Cradle of Civilization. Many important achievements of mankind where invented there, including the wheel and writing.
Important cultural institutions are the Iraqi National Orchestra and the National Theatre of Iraq. The live theatre scene grew rapidly during the 90s when foreign films were rare due to UN sanctions and import limitations. Today, around 30 movie theatres have been changed to live stages, producing a wide range of comedies and dramatic plays.