Iraqi cuisine has changed and evolved since the time of the Babylonians, Sumerians and Assyrians. The cuisine has been influenced by those ancient civiliSations, which also had influence Greek and Persian cuisines. With the coming of Islam and the spread of Arab culture, which influenced the region, the food was enhanced to combine old and new sets of tastes.
As the “Cradle of Civilisation” Iraq has a long educational heritage. However, the educational system in Iraq has suffered along with all other sectors due to chronic shortages of resources resulting from the UN sanctions imposed on the country when it invaded neighboring Kuwait in 1990/91. Iraqi schools have little or no access to books, supplies, equipment or any other resources.
Although the data are not absolutely reliable, the government estimates that 76 percent of the people are Arab; 19 percent are Kurds; while Turkomans, Assyrians, Armenians, and other relatively small groups make up the rest.