Iraq.

In ancient times, the region of Iraq was known as Mesopotamia, meaning "land between the rivers" (the Tigris and the Euphrates). Because of its incredibly long history, some believe Iraq to be the location of the mythical Garden of Eden. The ruins of Ur, Babylon, Nineveh, Assyria, and other ancient cultures are still evident throughout the country. Iraq was under the control of numerous empires throughout its history, including the Mongol and Ottoman Empires, before gaining full independence from its status as a British protectorate in 1932. Iraq was devastated by wars, sanctions, government repression, and instability during the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.