For over 6,000 years civilization has existed in the area of southwest Asia now known as Iraq. The earliest known cities and military and political power centers of the world existed there, and there have been times when Iraq has been a major force in shaping governments and religion through a large part of the world. However, Iraq's history is also rife with conquest and domination by foreign powers, as well as intense internal conflict. This history has contributed greatly to making Iraq the turbulent hot spot itcurrently is.