The history of what is present day Iraq is long and complicated. KS2 pupils might use a timeline to examine what was going on in Iraq at the same time as civilisation was flourishing in Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. They could examine ancient stories such as the Epic of Gilgamesh. KS3-5 students could use the material in this article in aspects of modern world history studies. One powerful exercise might be to ask them to play the role of peacemakers at the Versailles conference in 1919 and give them a number of options for the Middle East. This would enable them to see the complex web of competing demands and interests which lie behind the present-day situation in the region. This article can also clearly show the consequences of those decisions and deals.