Editing History of Iraq (section)

===Parthian and Roman rule===
{{Main|Asoristan|Osroene|Adiabene|Mesopotamia (Roman province)|Assyria (Roman province)}}
[[File:Charles_Le_Brun_-_Entry_of_Alexander_into_Babylon.JPG|alt=|thumb|"Entry of Alexander into Babylon", a 1665 painting by [[Charles LeBrun]], depicts Alexander the Great's uncontested entry into the city of Babylon, envisioned with pre-existing [[Ancient Greek architecture|Hellenistic architecture]].]] At the beginning of the 2nd century AD, the [[Roman Empire|Romans]], led by emperor [[Trajan]], invaded Parthia and conquered Mesopotamia, making it an imperial province. It was returned to the Parthians shortly after by Trajan's successor, [[Hadrian]].

[[Early Christianity|Christianity]] reached Mesopotamia in the 1st century AD, and [[Roman Syria]] in particular became the center of [[East Syrian Rite|Eastern Rite]] Christianity and the [[Syriac Christianity|Syriac]] literary tradition. [[Mandeism]] is also believed to have either originated there around this time or entered as Mandaeans sought refuge from Palestine.
Sumerian-Akkadian religious tradition disappeared during this period, as did the last remnants of [[cuneiform]] literacy, although temples were still being dedicated to the Assyrian national god [[Ashur (god)|Ashur]] in his home city as late as the 4th century.<ref name="George Roux - Ancient Iraq">George Roux – Ancient Iraq</ref>