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Baghdad, Iraq

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Location

The Resume

    (July 30, 762- )
    Founded by caliph Al Mansur
    Population estimated at 7-7.5 million (2010)
    Capital and largest city of Iraq
    Second-largest city in the Arab world after Cairo, Egypt

Why Baghdad, Iraq might be annoying:

    Construction began in July on the advice of astrologers that the city should be built under the sign of Leo. (After all, build a city under an inauspicious sign and bad stuff might happen to it.)
    It was sacked by Mongols under Hulugu Khan, who slaughtered so many people that Hulugu had to move his camp upwind of the city to escape the stench (1258).
    It was sacked again by Turks under Tamerlane, who ordered that each of his soldiers bring back two severed heads (1401).
    It suffered outbreaks of plague and cholera which sometimes wiped out up to two thirds of the population.
    It was the target of repeated missile attacks during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88).
    Its infrastructure was heavily damaged during the Gulf War (1991) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003).
    Due to ongoing sectarian violence, its population has separated into Sunni and Shia zones.

Why Baghdad, Iraq might not be annoying:

    For three centuries (900-1200) it was the world's largest city, with a population peaking at 1.2 million.
    It was a major center of learning and culture during the Islamic Golden Age.
    Many of the 'One Thousand and One Nights' tales were set here.
    It underwent a housing boom as refugees began returning after violence in the city dropped (2008).
    Its residents are big consumers of orange soda.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 12 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 15 Votes: 86.67% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 21 Votes: 76.19% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 14 Votes: 92.86% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 32 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 36 Votes: 38.89% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 16 Votes: 93.75% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 38 Votes: 10.53% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 22 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 14 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 51 Votes: 78.43% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 31 Votes: 51.61% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 84 Votes: 64.29% Annoying