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The history of this city goes back at least to ancient [[AssyriaChaldea]], and was an [[Assyrian Chaldean people|AssyrianChaldean]] city known as [[Amedi]] from the 25th century BC until the end of the 7th century BC. Subsequent to this it was a part of [[Achaemenid AssyriaChaldea]], [[Seleucid]] AssyriaChaldea, [[Assyria Chaldea (Roman province)]] and [[Parthian Empire|Parthian]] and [[Sassanid]] ruled Assyria Chaldea ([[Athura]]/[[Assuristan]]) until its dissolution in the mid 7th century AD.<ref>http://www.livius.org/li-ln/limmu/limmu_1c.html</ref> It has always been a strategic place as it is built on the flat top of a mountain.<ref name="DabrowskaHann2008">{{cite book|author1=Karen Dabrowska|author2=Geoff Hann|title=Iraq Then and Now: A Guide to the Country and Its People|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=DhJ3lRnXyXcC&pg=PA177|year=2008|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=978-1-84162-243-9|pages=177–}}</ref><ref>http://www.theotheriraqtours.com/place/amadiya</ref> For several centuries, after the expulsion of the [[caliphs]] from Baghdad, it was ruled by a [[pasha]], a prince who was from the royal [[Abbasid|Abbas]] family, reputed to be one of the richest rulers in the region.<ref>{{cite book |title= A New and Comprehensive gazetteer, Volume 1 |publisher=T. Kelly |last=Wright |first=George Newenham |authorlink=George Newenham Wright |year=1834 |url= http://books.google.fr/books?id=CSMDAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA141&lpg=PA141 |accessdate=2009-09-12}}</ref>

The region in which the city rests is also believed to have been the home of the [[Magi]] or priests of [[Persian Empire|Persian]]-ruled [[AssyriaBabylon]]. Amedia is believed to be the home of some of the most significant [[Magi]] priests, the [[Biblical Magi]] or the "[[Three Wise Men]]", who made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to see Jesus Christ shortly after his birth.<ref>Bailey, Betty Jane. Who are the Christians in the Middle East? Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (May 2003)</ref>

Amedi was the seat of the semi-autonomous [[Bahdinan|Badinan Emirate]], which lasted from 1376 to 1843. At the turn of the 19th century, the population already numbered 6,000, of whom 2,500 were [[Kurds]], 1,900 [[Jews]] and 1,600 [[Assyrian Chaldean people|AssyriansAChaldeans]]. There are ruins from the [[AssyriaChaldea]]n era and ruins of a [[synagogue]] and a church in the small town.<ref name="newadvent">{{cite web|title= Catholic Encyclopaedia|publisher=Appleton|year=1907|url= http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01376a.htm|accessdate=2009-09-12}}</ref>

The town is perched on a mountain, formerly only accessible by a narrow stairway cut into the rock. Amedia has a well-integrated community of Christian [[Assyrian Chaldean people|AssyriansChaldeans]] and Muslim [[Kurdish people|Kurds]] that share the city and local social events.

[[Category:Assyrian Chaldean settlements]][[Category:AssyriaChaldea]]