The city of Mosul in northern Iraq, some 396 km (250 miles) northwest of Baghdad, is today a central point in the political struggles of Iraq. This three-volume set is the most comprehensive treatment of this historical city ever written. The first volume covers the political history of Iraq and Mosul, beginning with the ancient Mesopotamian kingdoms that ruled the city, including the Assyrians and Chaldeans. The jurisdictions of the Persians, Macedonians, Arabs (before and after Islam), and Ottomans are given thorough consideration, taking the reader to the independence of Iraq in the twentieth century.

The second volume covers the cultural history of Mosul and the contributions of its inhabitants to world civilization. The narrative begins with the legacies of the Aramaic-speaking inhabitants, both pagan and Christian, then moves to the later periods of Islam and ending up with a survey of schools in Mosul during the early twentieth century.

The third volume is a comprehensive survey of the art and archaeology of the city. It begins with the city’s ancient Mesopotamian heritage, especially that of Assyria. The narrative of the history of archaeology in the city includes the works of Botta, Layard and others. Saigh then describes Arabic and Islamic art in the city, and presents a full description of Christian art in the various churches and monasteries of the city. The volume contains 46 illustrations. All three volumes are written in Arabic.

Suleiman Saigh was a native of Mosul. He became a priest in the Chaldean church and was evenutally consecrated bishop.