The empire which controls mesopotamia(Iraq) becomes the most powerful on the earth!

[Excape Goat]

The British, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Ottoman Empire and Mongols were all the most powerful nations or they reached their heights when they conquered Iraq. And now the USA....

In the old days, the area is considered a crossroad between the East and the west. The Arabs were probably the only ones that continued to expand after the conquest of Mesopotamia. The Mongols continued to expand, but in the Middle east. The British reached its greatest land mass after the WWI. And Iraq was one of their acquisitions at that time.

[nicephoras]

The Romans never really controlled the area - its too hard to defend as it lacks sufficient physical delineated boundaries. After Trajan and Septimus Severus each played their role in destroying Parthia the borders were generally removed to more sensible positions.
Also, the area lost its prime importance after the horrific Mongol devestation in the middle of the 13th century, from which it has never really recovered. The Abbasid Caliphate (which was effectively destroyed by the Mongols) was the last empire to make it their base of power.

[marek]

didn't iraq control iraq for a while, i don't remember them becoming an empire
did a poor job of it actually, could not even expand into iran or kuwait

[DJPoopypants]

The British, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Ottoman Empire and Mongols were all the most powerful nations or they reached their heights when they conquered Iraq. And now the USA....

In the old days, the area is considered a crossroad between the East and the west. The Arabs were probably the only ones that continued to expand after the conquest of Mesopotamia. The Mongols continued to expand, but in the Middle east. The British reached its greatest land mass after the WWI. And Iraq was one of their acquisitions at that time.

Britain didn't get involved in Iraq until after WW1, at which point their worldwide empire was a pathetic shadow of itself.

[nicephoras]

Britain didn't get involved in Iraq until after WW1, at which point their worldwide empire was a pathetic shadow of itself.

What? It was practically at its height after WWI.

[DJPoopypants]

What? It was practically at its height after WWI.

really? you're the historian and I ain't, but I always thought England was at its peak in the late 1800s. They whupped Napolean, France and Spain, their major rivals, and established control of India, their biggest cash-cow.

After that they did expand (South Africa, Crimea, Middle East), but they were ina slow decline after 1900, exacerbated by WW1, were they not? they may have still been top, but would you consider them at the height of their power?

Again, you're the historian, not me, but I wouldn't consider controlled land mass as the only source of might.

[nicephoras]

World War I didn't do much to England's colonies, actually. World War II is the real end of the colonial period. But adding the oil in Iraq and the Palestine mandate helped. Egypt was still de facto controlled by England.
Frankly, India was the jewel in the crown - everything else was ancillary.

[Kung Fu Hamster]

didn't iraq control iraq for a while, i don't remember them becoming an empire
did a poor job of it actually, could not even expand into iran or kuwait

Good point. Of course, it usually takes a while for a state to become a full-fledged empire, and Iraq only won its independence in 1947. Sixty years isn't a whole lot of time to become an empire.

[Shaster]

The control of Mideast AND center Asia were not important after sea route of trading replaced the old Silk Road.

Of course before oil as the bloodline for any country.

[Caesar]

He who controls the Spice, controls the universe.

[Smiley321]

The British, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Ottoman Empire and Mongols were all the most powerful nations or they reached their heights when they conquered Iraq. And now the USA....


Yeah, we were as insignificant as France before that Iraq invasion.

[spejic]

Well, getting all of Asia does get you 7 more armies. And it is tied for having the most connections to other nations, including two European and two African countries. I say go for it.

[Norsk Troll]

Well, getting all of Asia does get you 7 more armies. And it is tied for having the most connections to other nations, including two European and two African countries. I say go for it.And fall victim to one of the classic blunders?!? The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia!

[Pauncho]

Well, getting all of Asia does get you 7 more armies. And it is tied for having the most connections to other nations, including two European and two African countries. I say go for it.

Nobody ever controls Asia for more than one turn. Too many connections equals too many routes of attack. Australia is the heartland, and the place to start from for world dominance!

[bigredfutbol]

Now we know why the Austro-Hungarians couldn't hang. ;)