Ottoman Rule

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Black Sheep and White Sheep Turkmen ruled Iraq. In the 16th century, most of the territory of present-day Iraq came under the control of the Ottoman Empire with the exception of a sixteen year insurrection by the Safavid’s starting in 1622. Ottoman rule lasted until the end of World War I, throughout which Iraq was divided into three provinces, Baghdad, Mosul, and Basra.