Kurdistan: Difference between revisions
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{| class="infobox bordered" style="width: 250px; font-size: 95%; float: right;" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" |
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|+ '''Kurdistan''' |
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|- |
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| align=center colspan=2 | [[Image:Kurdish-inhabited area by CIA (1992).jpg|225px]]<br>Kurdish-inhabited area |
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|- |
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| Location |
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| Parts of [[Turkey]], [[Iran]], [[Iraq]] and [[Syria]] |
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|- |
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| Estimated [[Area]] |
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| ca. 74,000 sq mi (191,660 km²)-392,000 km² |
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|- |
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| Estimated [[Population]] |
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| About 25-30 Million |
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|} |
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'''Kurdistan''' (literally meaning "the land of [[Kurdish people|Kurds]]"<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9046469 Kurdistan, Encyclopaedia Britannica]</ref>; old: ''Koordistan'', ''Curdistan'', ''Kurdia'', also in Kurdish: ''Kurdewarî'') is the name of a geographic and [[cultural geography|cultural region]] in the [[Middle East]], inhabited predominantly by the [[Kurds]]. |
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As a traditional ethnographic region, Kurdistan is generally held to include the contiguous regions in northern and northeastern [[Mesopotamia]] with large Kurdish populations. From a political standpoint, [[Iraqi Kurdistan]] is the only region which has gained an official recognition as a federal entity.<ref>Iraqi constitution, article 113, 1th </ref> |
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==Etymology== |
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The region was known by various cognates of the word ''Kurd'' during the ancient history of the [[Mesopotamia]]. The ancient Sumerians referred to it as ''Kur-a'', ''Gutium'', or ''Land of Karda'', the Elamites as ''Kurdasu'', the Akkadians as ''Kurtei'', the Assyrians as ''Kurti'', the Babylonians as ''Qardu'', the Greeks as the Romans as land of ''Carduchoi'' or ''Corduene''. The ending of '-ene' was the Greek suffix for satrapies, as the ending of '-stan' in the word 'Kurdistan' is the Iranic suffix for toponyms meaning 'land of', however the original Kurdish equivalent for Kurdistan used by Kurds themselves, has been the word 'Kurdewarî'. |
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The term land of Kuti or Guti was used to refer to the areas to northeast of [[Babylonia]] <ref>http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/ebd/ebd340.htm</ref>, roughly corresponding to what is today Iraqi and Iranian Kurdistan, and in the wider concept to refer to somewhere in or the whole areas to the east of [[Tigris]]<ref>http://www.livius.org/cg-cm/chronicles/reading2.html</ref>. At the same time the term land of Karda or Beth Kardu was used for the tract situated between lake Van, lake Urmia and uper Tigris, to the north of land of Kuti; and to the west of both in uper Mesopotamia was situated the land of Arian Mitannis. |
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One of the first records of using the persianized term of 'Kurdistan' is by [[Sultan Sanjar]] the [[Seljuk Turks|Seljuk]] King in the 12th century. He formed a province named ''Kurdistan'' centered at ''Bahar'' situated to the northeast of [[Hamadan]]. This province was located between [[Azerbaijan]] and [[Luristan]]. It included the regions of [[Hamadan]], Dinawar, [[Kermanshah]] and [[Senna]], to the east of the [[Zagros]] and to the west of ''Sharazur'' ([[Kirkuk]]) and ''Khuftiyan'', on the river [[Zab]].<ref>http://www.encislam.brill.nl/data/EncIslam/C4/COM-0544.html</ref> |
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==History== |
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{{main|History of the Kurds}} |
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===Ancient period=== |
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The tract to this day known as Kurdistan, the high mountain region south and south-east of [[Lake Van]] between Persia and Mesopotamia, was in the possession of [[Kurdish people|Kurds]] from before the time of [[Xenophon]], and was known as the country of the ''Carduchi'' ([[Greek language|Greek]]:''Καρδούχοι'') , as ''Cardyene'' or ''Cordyene''.<ref>http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16167/16167-h/raw7a.htm</ref> |
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[[Image:Kurdish_Kingdoms_of_Corduene-Sophene.jpg|thumb|225px|60 BC Kingdom of Corduene]] |
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At their peak, the Romans ruled large Kurdish-inhabited areas, particularly the western and northern Kurdish areas in the Middle East. Kingdoms like [[Corduene]] were vassal states of the Roman Empire. From [[189 BC]] to AD [[384]], the ancient kingdom of [[Corduene]] ruled northern Mesopotamia. It was situated to the east of [[Tigranocerta]] (i.e., to the east and south of present-day [[Diyarbakır]] in south-eastern Turkey). It became a [[vassal]] state of the [[Roman Republic]] in [[66 BC]]. It remained allied with the Romans until AD [[384]]. |
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Some of the ancient districts of Kurdistan and their corresponding modern names are listed below <ref>J. Bell, ''A System of Geography. Popular and Scientific (A Physical, Political, and Statistical Account of the World and Its Various Divisions)'', pp.133-134, Vol.IV, Fullarton & Co., Glasgow, 1832.</ref>. |
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#[[Corduene]] or Gordyene ([[Siirt]], [[Bitlis]] and [[Şırnak]]) |
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#[[Sophene]] (Amed or [[Diyarbakır]]) |
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#Zabdicene or Bezabde (''Gozarto d'Qardu'' or ''Jazirat Ibn Umar'' or [[Cizre]]) |
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#Basenia ([[Bayazid]]) |
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#Moxoene ([[Muş]]) |
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#Nephercerta (''Miyafarkin'') |
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#Artemita ([[Van]]) |
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===Medieval period=== |
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[[Image:Europe_mediterranean_1097.jpg|thumb|225px|Mediterranean and European lands, about 1097]] |
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In the second half of the 10th century, Kurdistan was shared amongst five big Kurdish principalities. In the North the [[Shaddadid]] ([[951]]-[[1174]]) (in parts of [[Armenia]] and [[Arran (Azerbaijan)|Arran]]) and the [[Rawadid]] ([[955]]-[[1221]]) (in [[Tabriz]] and [[Maragheh]]), in the East the [[Hasanwayhid]] ([[959]]-[[1015]]) and the [[Annazid]] ([[990]]-[[1116]]) (in [[Hulwan]], [[Kermanshah]] and [[Khanaqin]]) and in the West the [[Marwanid]] ([[990]]-[[1096]]) of [[Diyarbakır]]. |
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Kurdistan in the [[Middle Ages]] was referred to a collection of semi-independent states called "[[emirate]]s". A comprehensive history of these states and their relationship with their neighbors is given in the famous textbook of "Sharafnama" written by Prince Sharaf al-Din Bitlisi in 1597.<ref>http://www.mazdapublishers.com/Sharafnama.htm</ref><ref>For a list of these entities see [http://www.kurdistanica.com/english/geography/maps/map-03.html]</ref> The most famous Kurdish Emirates included [[Baban]], [[Soran]], [[Badinan Emirate|Badinan]] and [[Garmiyan]] in present-day [[Iraq]]; Bakran, Botan (or ''Bokhtan'') and [[Badlis]] in [[Turkey]], and Mukriyan and [[Ardalan]] in [[Iran]]. <!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Treaty_Of_Sevres.gif|right|thumb|225px|A map depicting the effects of Sèvres upon Turkey]] --> |
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===Modern period=== |
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{{main|Iraqi Kurdistan|Turkish Kurdistan|Iranian Kurdistan|Kurdistan Okrug}} |
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In the 16th century A.D., the Kurdish-inhabited areas were split between [[Safavid Empire|Safavid Iran]] and the [[Ottoman Empire]] after prolonged wars. The first important division of Kurdistan occurred in the aftermath of the [[Battle of Chaldiran]] in [[1514]]. This division was formalized in the [[Treaty of Zuhab]] in [[1639]]<ref>C. Dahlman, ''The Political Geography of Kurdistan'', Eurasian Geography and Economics, Vol.43, No.4, pp.271-299, 2002.</ref>. Before [[World War I]], most Kurds lived within the boundaries of the [[Ottoman Empire]] in the [[Kurdistan Province, Ottoman Empire|province of Kurdistan]]. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the [[Allies#World War I|Allies]] agreed and planned to create several countries within its former boundaries. Originally, Kurdistan along with Armenia was to be one of them, according to the never-ratified [[Treaty of Sèvres]]. However, the reconquest of these areas by [[Kemal Atatürk]] and other pressing issues caused the Allies to accept the renegotiated [[Treaty of Lausanne]], accepting the border of modern Republic of Turkey and leaving the Kurds without a self-ruled region. Other Kurdish areas were assigned to the new British and French mandated states of Iraq and [[Syria]] under both treaties. |
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The Kurdish delegation made a proposal at the [[San Francisco Peace Conference]] in [[1945]], showing the geographical extent of Kurdistan as claimed by the Kurds. This proposal encompasses an area extending from the Mediterranean shores near [[Adana]] to the shores of [[Persian Gulf]] near [[Bushehr]], and it includes the [[Lur]] inhabited areas of southern [[Zagros]]<ref>C. Dahlman, ''The Political Geography of Kurdistan'', Eurasian Geography and Economics, Vol.43, No.4, pp.274</ref><ref>[http://www.akakurdistan.com/kurds/map/map.html The map presented by the Kurdish League Delegation, March 1945]</ref>. |
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Since [[World War I|WWI]], Kurdistan has been divided between several states, in all of which Kurds are minorities. At the end of the [[First Gulf War]], Allies established the safe haven in northern Iraq. Amid the withdrawal of Iraqi forces from three northern provinces, Iraqi Kurdistan emerged as an autonomous entity inside Iraq, with its own local government and parliament in [[1992]]. |
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==People== |
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In addition to Kurds who comprise the majority of the population of the region there are also communities of [[Assyrians|Assyrian]], [[Armenians|Armenian]], [[Ossetian]], [[Jews|Jewish]], [[Turkish people|Turkish]], [[Arab]] and [[Azeri]] people traditionally scattered throughout the region alongside Kurds. Most of its inhabitants being Muslim there are also significant numbers of various other religious sects such as [[Yazidi]], [[Yarsan]], [[Alevi]], [[Christian]], [[Judaism]], Sarayi, Bajwan and Haqqa etc. |
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==Geography== |
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[[Image:Zagros_1992.jpg|thumb|225px|The [[Zagros Mountains]] from space, September 1992]] |
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According to [[Encyclopædia Britannica]], Kurdistan covers about 74,000 sq mi (191,660 km²), and its chief towns are [[Diyarbakır]], Bitlis, and [[Van, Turkey|Van]] in Turkey, [[Mosul]], [[Arbil]] and Karkuk ([[Kirkuk]]) in Iraq, and [[Kermanshah]] in [[Iran]].<ref>http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9369506</ref> According to [[Encyclopaedia of Islam]], Kurdistan covers around 190,000 km² in Turkey, 125,000 km² in Iran, 65,000 km² in Iraq, and 12,000 km² in Syria and the total area of Kurdistan is estimated at approximately 392,000 km².<ref>http://www.encislam.brill.nl/data/EncIslam/C4/COM-0544.html</ref> Others estimate as many as 40 million Kurds live in Kurdistan, which covers an area as big as [[France]]. The [[Kurdistan Province (Iran)|Kurdistan Province]] in Iran and [[Iraqi Kurdistan]] are both included in the usual definition of Kurdistan. |
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[[Image:Ancient Kurdistan.gif|thumb|225px|Historic map showing borders of Curdistan provinces; (map created 1721)]] |
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[[Iranian Kurdistan]] encompasses [[Kurdistan Province (Iran)|Kurdistan Province]] and greater parts of [[West Azarbaijan Province|West Azarbaijan]], [[Kermanshah Province|Kermanshah]], [[Īlām Province|Īlām]] provinces. [[Iraqi Kurdistan]] is divided into 6 [[governorate|governates]] which until this time three plus parts of others are under the control of [[Kurdistan Regional Government]]. [[Kurds in Syria|Syrian Kurdistan]] is mostly located in present-day northeastern [[Syria]]. This region covers greater part of the province of [[Al Hasakah Governorate|Al Hasakah]]. The main cities in this region are [[Qamishli|Al-Qamishli]] (or "Qamişlû" in [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]]) and [[Al Hasakah]] (or "Hesaka" in Kurdish). Another region with a significant Kurdish population is in the northern part of Syria. The Kurdish-inhabited northern and northeastern parts of Syria in Kurdish is called "Kurdistana Binxetê". |
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<ref>[http://modersmal.skolutveckling.se/nordkurdiska/kurdmap/pages/Geographic%20Distribution%20of%20Kurdish%20and%20other%20Iranic%20Languages_jpg_gif.htm]</ref> (see [[Demographics of Syria]] and <ref>[https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/sy.html]</ref>), a large area of south eastern [[Turkey]] is also home to estimated 15 to 20 million [[Kurds]]. |
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===Forests=== |
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Although Kurdistan has a harsh and cold climate, it is not a desert. Mountain chains are covered with pasture, and its valleys with forests. There are around 16 million hectares (160,000 km²) of forests in all parts of Kurdistan. [[Oak]]s, [[fir]]s and other [[conifers]] can be found in those forests. The [[platanus]], [[willow]] and [[poplar]], are found near waters and rivers <ref>[http://www.encislam.brill.nl/data/EncIslam/C4/COM-0544.html]</ref>. |
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===Mountains=== |
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[[Image:Kurdish_girl_Ararat.JPG|thumb|175px|Kurdish girl in front of [[Mount Ararat]]]] |
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Mountains, even to this day, have been important geographical and symbolic figures in Kurdish life, so that there is a saying that ''Kurds have no friends but the mountains'' <ref>[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0195080750/102-1064843-5620115?v=glance&n=283155]</ref>. The [[Mount Judi]] is the most important mountain in Kurdish folklore and along with [[Mount Ararat]] is one of the mountains that is thought to be the final resting place of [[Noah's Ark]]. Other important mountains of Kurdistan are [[Zagros]] Shingar, Qendil, Shaho, Gabar, etc. |
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===Rivers=== |
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[[Image:Tigr-euph.png|thumb|250px|Map of [[Tigris]]-[[Euphrates]] watershed]] |
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There are many rivers in Kurdistan that are at least as important, if not more important, than oil. The plateaus and mountains of Kurdistan, which are characterized by heavy rainfall and in winter a heavy coat of snow, are a water reservoir for the Near and Middle East. This is the source of the famous [[Tigris]] and [[Euphrates]] Rivers as well as numerous other smaller rivers like the Khabur, Tharthar, Ceyhan, Araxes, Kura, Sefidrud, Karkha, Hezil, which their major tributaries spring from the mountains of Kurdistan. Those rivers that are entirely or nearly entirely in Kurdistan are usually of historical importance to the Kurds. Among these are the Murat (Arasān) and Buhtān rivers in northern and western Kurdistan (in Turkey); the Peshkhābur, the Lesser and the Greater Zab, and the Sirwan/Diyala in central Kurdistan (in Iraq); and the Jaghatu (Zarrinarud), the Tātā'u (Siminarud), the Zohāb (Zahāb), and the Gāmāsiyāb in southern Kurdistan etc. With their water, the Tigris and the Euphrates give life not only to the [[Mesopotamia]]n plain and whole of Kurdistan but also to Iraq and Syria. These rivers, which flow down from heights of three to four thousand meters above sea level, are also very significant for the production of energy. Iraq and Syria have built numerous dams across these rivers and their tributaries. But the most important ones are a series of dams that were built by Turkey as part of the GAP project (Southeast Anatolia Project). The [[Southeastern Anatolia Project|GAP]] project is still not complete, but it already supplies a significant proportion of Turkey's electrical-energy needs. Due to the extraordinary archaeological richness of the land, almost any dam built in Kurdistan drowns a portion of Kurdish history <ref>[http://www.kurdistanica.com/english/economy/water/the_water.html]</ref>. |
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===Lakes=== |
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There are a number of lakes in Kurdistan. The eastern borders of Kurdistan ends with the [[Lake Urmia]] and the western borders with semi-contiguous Kurdish-inhabited regions to the [[Mediterranean sea]]. [[Lake Van]] is the world's fourth largest non-saline body of water by volume. The [[Zarivar Lake]] around Mariwan as well as [[Lake Dukan]] around the city of [[Sulaymaniyah]] are considerable touristic sites <ref>[http://www.kurdistanica.com/english/economy/water/the_water.html]</ref>. |
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===Underground resources=== |
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There are many oil and mineral resources in Kurdistan. KRG-controlled parts of [[Iraqi Kurdistan]] only by itself is estimated to have around 45bn barrels of oil reserves making it 6th largest in the world, mostly recently discovered and its extraction is said to begin within the first three months of the next near (2007?). These are excluding those of Kirkuk and Mosul, cities claimed by the KRG to be included in its territory. Albeit for a long time oil was extracted mainly in these two cities through Iraq by former Baath regime. Gas and associated gas reserves are in excess of 100 TCF. Other underground resources that exist in significant quantities in the region include copper, iron, zinc and cement. The world´s largest deposit of rock sulphur is located just southwest of [[Erbil]] (Hewlêr). Other important underground resources include coal, gold, marble, etc.<ref>[http://www.kurdistancorporation.com/Oil_and_gas.htm]</ref>. |
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==Climate== |
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There are many rivers flowing and running through mountains of Kurdistan making it distinguished by its fertile lands, plentiful water, picturesque nature. The mountainous nature of Kurdistan, the difference of temperatures in its various parts, and its wealth of waters, make Kurdistan a land of agriculture and tourism. The climate of Kurdistan is harsh, because of its high altitude. There is a lot of snowfall in the high mountains. Percipitation varies between 200 to 400 mm a year in the plains, and between 700 to 3,000 mm a year on the high plateaux between mountain chains.<ref>[http://www.encislam.brill.nl/data/EncIslam/C4/COM-0544.html]</ref> |
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==Views of Kurdistan== |
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<gallery> |
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Image:Hills south west of Sanandaj near the village of Kilaneh.jpg|Hills southwest of [[Sanandaj]] near the village of Kélane. |
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Image:Knight-Iran.JPG|[[Taq-e Bostan]]. |
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Image:Darius_I_the_Great's_inscription.jpg|[[Darius I the Great]]'s [[Behistun Inscription]] in '''[[Kermanshah]]''' |
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Image:Zarivar-Lake.jpg|'''[[Zarivar Lake]]''' |
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Image:Iraqvillageavzrog.jpg|[[Saint Vartan]] near the city of [[Dohuk]]. |
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Image:Zagros_1992.jpg|The [[Zagros Mountains]] from space. |
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Image:Marivan-zarivar-Iran.jpg|[[Lake Zarivar]] |
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Image:MarivanFields.JPG|[[Marivan]] Countryside. |
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Image:SnahCity.JPG|The city of [[Sanandaj]] |
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Image:DA-SD-06-13549.jpg|The snow is still on the ground at the higher elevations on a mountain located near Arbil. |
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Image:EqbalSquare.jpg|The Square of Liberty: The main square in Sanandaj. |
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</gallery> |
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==See also== |
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* [[History of the Kurdish people]] |
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* [[Turkish Kurdistan]] |
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* [[Kurds in Turkey]] |
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* [[Iranian Kurdistan]] |
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* [[Iraqi Kurdistan]] |
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* [[Kurds in Syria]] |
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* [[Kurdistan Okrug]] |
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* [[Kurdish people]] |
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* [[List of Kurdish people]] |
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* [[List of Kurdish organisations|Kurdish organisations]] |
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* [[Genetic insights into the background of the Kurds]] |
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* [[Kurdish Identity]] |
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* [[Yazidis]] |
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* [[Kurdish Jews]] |
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* [[Kurdish Christians]] |
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===Modern Kurdish governments=== |
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*[[Iraqi Kurdistan|Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)]] (1991-Present) |
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*[[Republic of Mahabad]] (1946) |
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*[[Republic of Ararat]] (1927-1931) |
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*[[Kingdom of Kurdistan]] (1922-1924) |
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==Notes and references== |
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<div class="references-small"> |
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<references/> |
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</div> |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.krg.org/ Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)] News, progress reports and reference material about Kurds, KRG and Kurdistan Region. |
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*[http://www.institutkurde.org/en/ The Kurdish Institute of Paris] Provides news, bulletins, articles and conference informations on the situation in Kurdistan. |
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*[http://www.theotheriraq.com Official Investment Website of Kurdistan] |
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*[http://www.mazdapublishers.com/Essays-Origins.htm Essays on the Origins of Kurdish Nationalism, edited by Abbas Vali] |
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*[http://www.kurdistanica.com/ The Encyclopedia of Kurdistan] |
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*[http://www.encislam.brill.nl/data/EncIslam/C4/COM-0544.html Kurds, Kurdistan], The Encyclopaedia of Islam. |
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*[http://www.polosbastards.com/artman/publish/article_32.shtml Troubled Times - A Brief History Of Kurdistan] |
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*[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/kurdistan-maps.htm A dozen maps of Kurdistan] by [http://www.GlobalSecurity.org/ GlobalSecurity.org] |
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*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4328285.stm "Turkey renames 'divisive' animals"] [http://news.bbc.co.uk BBC News] [[8 March]][[2005]] |
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*[http://www.saradistribution.com/galeri.htm A number of pictures from historical attractions in Kurdistan] |
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*[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2207534,00.html Calls for freedom make the jigsaw of Europe more complicated than ever (Kurdistan in 2010s)] [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2207383,00.html][http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2207484,00.html] |
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[[Category:Iranian Plateau]] |
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[[Category:Kurdish people]] |
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[[Category:Kurdistan| ]] |
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[[Category:Proposed countries]] |
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[[Category:Middle East]] |
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[[Category:Divided regions]] |
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[[ar:كردستان]] |
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[[bg:Кюрдистан]] |
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[[ca:Kurdistan]] |
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[[cs:Kurdistán]] |
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[[da:Kurdistan]] |
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[[de:Kurdistan]] |
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[[el:Κουρδιστάν]] |
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[[es:Kurdistán]] |
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[[eo:Kurdio]] |
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[[eu:Kurdistan]] |
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[[fa:سرزمین کردستان]] |
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[[fr:Kurdistan]] |
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[[gl:Curdistán]] |
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[[ko:쿠르디스탄]] |
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[[it:Kurdistan]] |
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[[he:כורדיסטן]] |
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[[ku:Kurdistan]] |
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[[lv:Kurdistāna]] |
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[[mk:Курдистан]] |
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[[nl:Koerdistan]] |
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[[ja:クルディスタン]] |
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[[no:Kurdistan]] |
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[[nn:Kurdistan]] |
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[[pl:Kurdystan]] |
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[[pt:Curdistão]] |
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[[ru:Курдистан]] |
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[[fi:Kurdistan]] |
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[[sv:Kurdistan]] |
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[[tr:Kürdistan]] |
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[[zh-yue:庫爾德斯坦]] |
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[[zh:庫爾德斯坦]] |
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