Brief History of Iran
RISHI SARASWAT
A MODERN HISTROY OF IRAN
DR. ARMITAGE
6/21/2012
Introduction Iran, formerly known as Persia, has a rich fascinating history that shapes the modern day culture of the region. Iran is known for housing one of the world’s oldest major civilizations that has its roots dating back to 4000 BC. The Medes were the first people to occupy the region; they unified the Iran as a nation and major empire. Iran was ruled by a series of empires and dynasties, starting with The Achaemenid Empire which ruled from 550-330 BC all the way to Iran’s last dynasty, The Pahlavi Dynasty, which was in power from 1925-1941. The Iranian Revolution or the Islamic Revolution put an end to the dynasties in Iran after the shahs (kings) started incorporating Western ideals and philosophies into society. This deeply concerned religious people and they started viewing the Shahs as anti-Islamic which eventually lead to the Ayatollah regaining power over the nation. In order to have a basic understanding of the issues facing Iran today it is important to look at the past and have an understanding of the modern history of this complex nation.
Safavid Empire We start our study with the Safavid Empire which took control in 1502. The Safavid Empire ruled over modern day Iran, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Armenia, Georgia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Caucasus. Although Islamic conquest in Iran started way back in 633 BC, the Safavid Dynasty is primarily known for establishing Shia Islam as the official religion of Iran. This lead to the decline of the Zoroastrian and Bahai faiths which are ancient religions originating in Iran. Shah Ismail I was the first Shah of the Safavid Dynasty, he was primarily responsible for converting Iran from Sunni to Shia Islam. Ismail served as a spiritual leader to the people of Iran, under his rule anyone who wasn’t part of the Shia Islam faith faced extreme religious prosecution and essentially were forced to convert. In the 18th
A MODERN HISTROY OF IRAN
DR. ARMITAGE
6/21/2012
Introduction Iran, formerly known as Persia, has a rich fascinating history that shapes the modern day culture of the region. Iran is known for housing one of the world’s oldest major civilizations that has its roots dating back to 4000 BC. The Medes were the first people to occupy the region; they unified the Iran as a nation and major empire. Iran was ruled by a series of empires and dynasties, starting with The Achaemenid Empire which ruled from 550-330 BC all the way to Iran’s last dynasty, The Pahlavi Dynasty, which was in power from 1925-1941. The Iranian Revolution or the Islamic Revolution put an end to the dynasties in Iran after the shahs (kings) started incorporating Western ideals and philosophies into society. This deeply concerned religious people and they started viewing the Shahs as anti-Islamic which eventually lead to the Ayatollah regaining power over the nation. In order to have a basic understanding of the issues facing Iran today it is important to look at the past and have an understanding of the modern history of this complex nation.
Safavid Empire We start our study with the Safavid Empire which took control in 1502. The Safavid Empire ruled over modern day Iran, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Armenia, Georgia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Caucasus. Although Islamic conquest in Iran started way back in 633 BC, the Safavid Dynasty is primarily known for establishing Shia Islam as the official religion of Iran. This lead to the decline of the Zoroastrian and Bahai faiths which are ancient religions originating in Iran. Shah Ismail I was the first Shah of the Safavid Dynasty, he was primarily responsible for converting Iran from Sunni to Shia Islam. Ismail served as a spiritual leader to the people of Iran, under his rule anyone who wasn’t part of the Shia Islam faith faced extreme religious prosecution and essentially were forced to convert. In the 18th
Bibliography: Abrahamian, Ervand. A history of modern Iran. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 2008. Print. Ghani, Cyrus. Iran and the Rise of the Reza Shah: From Qajar Collapse to Pahlavi Power. London: I.B. Taurus & Co. Ltd, 2000. Nemat, Marina. Marina Nemat Inc., "Marina Nemat." Accessed June 19, 2012. http://www.marinanemat.com/essay_democracy.pdf