[7][8] The Batman Province contains the strategic Tigris river with fertile lands by its sides, as well as rocky hills with numerous caves providing a natural shelter.

The Batman Province was a religious center in the 4th–6th centuries AD and a part of the Byzantine Empire.

In the 11th–12th centuries it was ruled by the Great Seljuq Empire and Artuqids, a part of which was based in the province, in the city of Hasankeyf.

It was populated by Assyrian Christians and Armenians, also had a significant presence of Pontic Greeks, Baghdadi Jews.

[13] Development of oil fields resulted in relocation of Turkish people into a mostly Kurd-populated Batman Province.

[15] Recent individual incidents include the following: 1 Turkish soldier was killed and 2 wounded during clashes in the province on 15 April 2010.

Several rivers (Turkish: Çay or Nehir) flow through the province, including Tigris, Batman, Sason and Garzan.

The Tigris flows from west to east, merges with the Batman River and exits the province.

The Garzan River flowing from north to south enters the Tigris and separates Batman from the Siirt Province lying to the east.

Sights include the Imam Abdullah Dervish monastery, the bridge of Camiü‘r Rızk and Hasankeyf.

Another, short (41 km [25 mi]) pipeline connected Batman with Şelmo – the location of the second largest oil field in Turkey.