Kurdistan

For other uses, see Kurdistan (disambiguation).

Kurdistan

Location	Parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey
Estimated Area	ca. 74,000 sq mi (191,660 sq km),
Estimated Population	About 25-30 Million

Kurdistan (literally meaning "the land of Kurds") is the name of a geographic region and a cultural region in Middle East inhabited by Kurds. It is not an independent state. The term Kurdistan was used for the first time by Sultan Sanjar the 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.

The exact borders of Kurdistan are hard to define. It is generally held to include the regions in northern and northeastern Mesopotamia with large Kurdish populations. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, Kurdistan is a mountainous region of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, inhabited predominantly by Kurds. It covers about 74,000 sq mi (191,660 sq km), and its chief towns are Diyarbakir, Bitlis, and Van in Turkey, Mosul and Karkuk (Kirkuk) in Iraq, and Kermanshah in Iran. The boundaries of the modern ethnographic region of Kurdistan overlaps with parts of the ancient Assyrian Empire, which was overthrown and its people assimilated by Medes and various other tribes as well as parts of the historical ethnic homeland of the Armenian people. While Iran and Iraq acknowledge Kurdistan as parts of their territories (Iraqi Kurdistan region in Iraq and Kurdistan Province in Iran), Turkey and Syria do not recognize Kurdistan as a demographic or geographic region.

Following World War I and the defeat of Ottoman Empire, Kurds were promised an independent nation-state in the 1920 Treaty of Sèvres. Turkish nationalists, however, rejected the terms of the treaty, and following the defeat of the Greek forces in the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922), the Treaty of Lausanne was signed in 1923 in Turkey's favor. The larger area known as Turkish Kurdistan was given to Turkey and the rest was accepted as part of the British Empire (except for the Iranian Kurdistan, which at that time was part of Persia). Since that time Kurdish nationalists have continued to seek independence in an area approximating that identified at Sèvres. However, the idea of an independent nation-state came to a halt when the surrounding countries joined to reject the independence of Kurdistan.

History

Main article: History of the Kurds

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 Kurds from before the time of Xenophon, and was known as the country of the Carduchi (Greek:Καρδούχοι) , as Cardyene or Cordyene.

File:Kurdistan-Corduene.jpg

BC 60 Corduene (Kurdistan)

Kurds claim descent from various ancient groups; among them the Guti, Mannai (Mannaeans), Hurrian and Medes. The original Mannaean homeland was situated east and south of the Lake Urmia, roughly centered around modern-day Mahabad. The Medes came under Persian rule during the reign of Cyrus the Great and Darius. Centuries later, Kurdish-inhabited areas in the Middle East witnessed the clash of the two competing super powers of those times, namely the Sassanid Empire and the Roman Empire. At their peak, the Romans ruled large Kurdish-inhabited areas, particularly the western and northern Kurdish areas in the Middle East. The Kurdish Kingdom of Corduene was a vassal state of the Roman Empire.

From 189 BCE to 384 CE, 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 Diyarbakir in south-eastern Turkey). It became a vassal state of the Roman Republic in 66 BCE. It remained allied with the Romans until 384 CE.

In the 7th century A.D., Arabs conquered most of the Middle East, and Kurds became subjects of Arab Umayyad and Abbasid caliphates. In the second half of the 10th century, Kurdistan was shared amongst four big Kurdish principalities. In the North the Shaddadid (951-1174) (in parts of Armenia and Arran), 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 Diyarbakir.

Kurds in the medieval period were living in several semi-independent states called "emirates". 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 [1]. For a list of these entities see [2]. The famous Kurdish Emirates included Baban, Soran, Badinan and Garmiyan in present-day Iraq; Bakran, Bokhtan (Botan) and Badlis in Turkey, and Mukriyan and Ardalan in Iran. In 17th century, Ahmad Khani (Ehmedê Xanî) wrote "Mem û Zîn", the Kurdish national epic, and he was seen by some as an early advocate of Kurdish nationalism ^[3].

File:Treaty Of Sevres.gif

A map depicting the effects of Sèvres upon Turkey

Evliya Çelebi, the famous Turkish traveller , has mentioned 9 regions which formed parts of Kurdistan in 17th century: Erzurum, Van, Hakkari, Diyarbakir, Jazira, Amadiya, Musil, Sharazur and Ardalan (see Seyahatname, vol. IV,pp.74-75 and [4]).

In the 16th century A.D., the Kurdish inhabited areas were split between Safavid Iran and the Ottoman Empire after long wars. Before World War I, most Kurds lived within the boundaries of the Ottoman Empire in the province of Kurdistan. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the Allies created 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, giving this territory to 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. These boundaries were drawn with more concern for the division of oil resources and influence between different colonial powers and for rewarding pro-Allied Arab leaders than with ethnic distribution.

Modern History

Template:Main4 [[Image:Flag of Kurdistan.svg|thumb|225px|The unofficial Kurdish flag ]. Since WWI, Kurdistan has been divided between several states, in all of which Kurds are minorities. Many Kurds have campaigned for independence or autonomy, often through force of arms. However, there has been no support by any of the regional governments or by outside powers for changes in regional boundaries. A sizable Kurdish diaspora exists in Western Europe that participates in agitation for Kurdish issues, but most of the governments in the Middle East have historically banned open Kurdish activism.

In Iraq, Kurdish guerrilla groups, known in the Kurdish culture as 'Peshmerga', have fought for a Kurdish state. In Iraqi Kurdistan, Peshmerga fought against the (former) Iraqi government before and during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq and now comprise significant parts of Iraqi army forces such as police especially in Iraqi Kurdistan as well as some neighboring regions.

Another militant group, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), has fought an armed campaign in Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran for over thirty years. In Turkey, more than 30,000 Turkish and Kurdish people have died as a result of the war between the state and the PKK, with alleged atrocities being committed by both sides.

In Iranian Kurdistan, frequent unrest and occasional military crackdown have happened throughout the 1990s and even to the present [5]. In Iran, Kurds twice had their own controlled free area without government control: The Republic of Mahabad in Iran which was the second independent Kurdish state of the 20th century, after the Republic of Ararat in modern Turkey; and second time after the Iranian revolution in 1979.

There have also been casualties in Syrian Kurdistan such as the 2004 incident.

Militarization

Due to political crises and conflicts in Kurdistan, Kurdistan is one of the most militarized regions on earth; all of those countries which have Kurdistan within their political borders have focused military operations in the region.

Economy

Although Kurdistan is regarded as a region rich in oil and other minerals, it is largely undeveloped, with the exception of Iraqi Kurdistan

Geography

[[Image:Zagros 1992.jpg|thumb|right|The Zagros Mountains from space, September 1992]]

According to one account, Kurdistan includes 27-28 million people in a 190,000 km² (74,000 sq. mi) area. Others estimate as many as 40 million Kurds live in Kurdistan, which covers an area as big as France. The Kurdistan Province in Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan are both included in the usual definition of Kurdistan.

Iranian Kurdistan encompasses Kurdistan Province and greater parts of West Azarbaijan, Kermanshah, Ilam Province and smaller parts of Lorestan.

Iraqi Kurdistan is divided into 6 governorates which until this time three of them plus parts of other ones are under the control of Kurdistan Regional Government.

Syrian Kurdistan is mostly located in present-day northeastern Syria. This region covers greater part of the province of Al Hasakah. The main cities in this region are Al-Qamishli (or "Qamişlû" in Kurdish) and Al Hasakah (or "Hesaka" in Kurdish). Another region with significant Kurdish population is in the northen part of Syria. The Kurdish-inhabited northern and northeastern parts of Syria in Kurdish is called "Kurdistana Binxetê". [6]. (see Demographics of Syria and [7]).

Climate

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.

• A Canyon
  A Canyon
• Dukan region
  Dukan region
• Kurdistan nature
  Kurdistan nature
• Bexal region
  Bexal region
• Kurdistan nature
  Kurdistan nature
• 
  Duhok
• Geli Eli Beg Waterfall
  Geli Eli Beg Waterfall
• 
  Zarivar Lake

Historical attractions

Being homeland for various ancient nations for millennia, there are a large number of historical sites and attractions in Kurdistan.

• Slemani
  Slemani
• Hewler
  Hewler
• 
  Slemani
• Ancient Citadel of Hewler
  Ancient Citadel of Hewler
• The house of Moshir Diwan is an example of Persian Qajarid architecture in Sanandaj (Sinne).
  The house of Moshir Diwan is an example of Persian Qajarid architecture in Sanandaj (Sinne).
• Pol-e Farhad Abad, a Seljukid era bridge near Qarveh.
  Pol-e Farhad Abad, a Seljukid era bridge near Qarveh.
• Sanandaj (Sinne) Congregation Mosque, 1812 CE.
  Sanandaj (Sinne) Congregation Mosque, 1812 CE.
• 
  Ardashir II is believed to be standing here in this relief at Taq-e Bostan. On his left is Ahura Mazda, on his right is Anahita, and below him is a mounted Persian knight.

See also

• Ey Reqîb (the Kurdish national anthem)
• History of the Kurds
• Kurdish music
• Kurdish Institute of Paris
• Kurdish people

External links

• Essays on the Origins of Kurdish Nationalism, edited by Abbas Vali
• The Encyclopedia of Kurdistan
• Kurds, Kurdistan, The Encyclopaedia of Islam.
• Troubled Times - A Brief History Of Kurdistan
• A dozen maps of Kurdistan by GlobalSecurity.org
• "Turkey renames 'divisive' animals" BBC News 8 March2005
• A number of pictures from historical attractions in Kurdistan