When Yazan Fadhli introduces himself to people and mentions that he’s from Iraq, his homeland conjures questions about the Islamic State, sectarian violence, chemical weapons and car bombs.

Yet the area he’s from is considered the cradle of civilization, the birthplace of mathematics, astronomy and medicine, and the site of wave upon wave of great ancient empires known for their contributions to science, art and architecture.

“Iraq is historically significant for many reasons, but at the top of the list must be that it encompasses areas where some of the earliest civilizations emerged,” said Seth Cantey, professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, adding that “Iraq was once among the most prominent centres of global learning.”

But that’s not how most of the rest of the world sees the Arab country that’s been making headlines for decades.

Read more- BBC

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