Tourism Information of History of Iran

History of Iran Iran (also known as Persia) is an old country which has experienced countless ups and downs throughout its long history granting it, in addition to various and numerous tangible heritage, a repertoire of intangible elements including narratives and exciting stories. Our knowledge regarding pre-historical periods of Iran is neither ample nor completely accurate. Archaeologists have found the traces of Neolithic human settlement in Zagros and Alborz mountains. Many ancient Teppes and archeological remains in places like Sialk (in Kashan), Shahr-e Soukhte (in Sistan and Blouchestan), Jiroft civilization (Kerman) indicate several thousand years of settlement in Iran. The Elamites According to current archeological and historical evidence, the first institutionalized settlement in Iran belongs to the Elamites who lived and reigned in the 3rd millennium BCE in Southwest Iran (present Khouzestan). The Elamites were neighboring rivals of Sumerians and other Mesopotamia city-states and had direct impact on the invention of writing and other subsequent advancements in the region. During three millenniums, they have been either in war or in trade with other city-states, especially of Mesopotamia. With the rise of the Achaemenids in the mid-first millennium BCE, they were completely absorbed into an emerging world power. The most significant structure remained from this civilization is the Chogha Zanbil ziggurat which is located nearby the ancient city of Shush (Susa). The Aryans It is believed that a group of Aryan people entered Iran 3500 years ago. Of course, before Aryans other peoples had lived in Iran but reliable information is not available with respect to their origins and ways of living. It seems that Aryans came to Iran from Central Asia and settled in three different regions. Parthians stayed in Northeast of the country, Persians chose to settle in the South (Present

Fars Province) and Medians moved to the North and Northwest of the country. These tribes led a nomadic life of looting and conflict with native inhabitants, but through centuries they gradually gained their dominance and absorbed the natives. Medes and Achaemenids Medes (550-678 BCE), under the leadership of Diocese, founded the first Aryan kingdom in Iran and ruled over some parts of Iran and Mesopotamia for more than a century. Medes, together with Babylonians managed to annihilate the almighty Assyrians (2500-605 BCE) for good. Nevertheless, the first Aryan empire in Iran, or perhaps the world, emerged with the provincial rule of Cyrus II (later known as Cyrus the Great) in Anshan (present Fars province and neighboring areas). As legend goes, Cyrus was the grandson of Astyages, the Median king, and the ruler of Anshan. He called himself the king of Iran after defeating Astyages in the Pasargadae war and founded the Achaemenid dynasty (550-330 BCE). Then, he annexed other regions and expanded his newly founded empire and turned it into one of the most glorious empires ever existed. According to historians, Cyrus was different from his former and later conquerors. He had a great respect for the religion and traditions of the subjugated nations and allowed them to freely practice their faith. Even after seizing Babylon, Cyrus freed the Jews from the shackles of slavery and allowed them to either live in Persia or return to their homeland, Jerusalem. He was killed in a war with Massagetes (Northeast of Iran) and buried in Pasargadae. Then, his eldest son, Cambyses, took the throne and conquered Egypt but mysteriously died shortly after. The next great king is Darius the Great who was a relation to Cyrus the Great. Darius suppressed the rebels who were against his rule and extended the Achaemenid territory from Indus valley in the East to Danube River in Europe and Egypt in Africa. He ordered the construction of the magnificent Persepolis Palace. This Palace was a ceremonial venue that had been built to display the greatness and magnificence of the empire. This mighty empire was vanquished by Alexander the Great in 220 BCE. Pasargadae and Persepolis are two outstanding monuments left from this era. Alexander the Great, Seleucids and Parthians Alexander the Great marked the demise of a great empire. He burnt down Persepolis and conquered the whole territory once under Achaemenid rule. After Alexander died in Babylon, his empire was divided among his generals. Persia was fallen under the control of the Seleucids. It took almost 65 years for Iranians to reinstate their own rule. Parthians who live in Northeast rebelled against the Seleucids and eventually ended their reign in Iran. Though Parthians (247 BCE- 224 CE) didn’t enjoy the authority of Achaemenids, they were even superior to them in terms of architecture, design and art. They were always engaged in a struggle with Romans over Armenia and Syria. War with the Romans, on one hand, and nomadic tribes’ constant invasions in Northeast, on the other, undermined their rule so that they were overthrown by another Persian tribe, the Sassanids . The Sassanians The religious Sassanians (224-651 CE), who ruled the South in the time of Parthians, became patron of Zoroastrianism and uprooted the feudalism of Parthian Era. Like Parthian, they were in constant war with their eastern rival, the Roman (Byzantine) Empire. As a religious empire, they often didn’t allow other religions to propagate their faith. It took 1000 years for Iranians to repeat the golden days of Achaemenids. Khosrow Parviz (590-628 CE), the last great king of Sassanians, stretched the borders of Iran to include Egypt, Jerusalem, and Levant countries. After the death of Khosrow Parviz, the decline of this dynasty began which paved the way for the Arab invasion. The defeat of Iranians from Arabs in 637 CE was an epoch-making event that brought great changes. Takht-e Soleiman, Taq-e Bostan, Bistoun, Shushtar Hydraulic System, some parts of Arg-e Bam are among the most outstanding remains of this era.

Islamic Era Caliphate rule Gradually, Arabs took control of all Iran and had Zoroastrianism replaced by their own faith, Islam. Only in some parts of the country like Yazd, Kerman and Mazandaran, people resisted against the change! Muslims adopted Sasanian Knowledge, art and architecture. The Arab Caliphs advanced more into Iran territories and reached Central Asia. After the disintegration of Umayyad Caliphate (661-750 CE) in Damascus and the rise of Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258 CE) in Bagdad, local powers, such as Tahirids, Saffarids, Samanids emerged in different parts of Iran, especially in East and Northeast. Other invasions Turks are among other foreign people who came to Iran either peacefully or non-peacefully. Ghaznavids founded the first Turkic local state in the East of Iran. The second great Turkic invasion was of Seljuk’s (1037- 1194 CE) that in their heyday subdued the entire Iran and minor Asia. Seljuks contributed a lot to the progress of science, art and architecture of Iran. Their powerful empire was weakened and once again other local states emerged. These states, like other nations of the time, were torn apart by the Mongol Empire (1206-1368 CE). Hulagu Khan, a grandson of Genghis Khan founded Ilkhanate dynasty in the eastern territories of the Empire and chose Tabriz as his Capital. Soltaniye dome belongs to this period. To rule better and easier, Mongols converted into Islam. Since they felt sorry for the havoc they had wreaked, they usually would decide to become a patron of the art. After the demise of Ilkanate dynasty, another conqueror tormented the newly recovered nation. Tamerlane (1370-1405 CE), tracing his lineage to Genghis Khan, with his fierce army seized India, Iran, minor Asia and even parts of Europe. Though he was a bloodlust, he supported art, architecture and culture. After his death once again Iran was caught into feuds among different warlords and it took almost 200 years until our country was reunited under one rule. One of the greatest architectural feats left behind from Tamerlane successors in the East of Iran is Goharshad Mosque in Mashhad. The Safavids It was not until the early 16th century that Iran again rose to power and the third Iranian great empire began to flourish. Shah Ismail, a descendant of Sheikh Safi, dominated over Iran gradually and established the Safavid dynasty (1501-1736). Shah Ismail introduced a great change into Iranian society. He chose Shia as the official religion in Iran. This change had a great impact on the relationship of Iran with other Muslim states which were mostly Sunni, particularly Ottoman Empire. The nature of this relationship was mostly hostile. The Safavids reached their highest power with Abbas I (the Great) who transferred the capital from Qazvin to Isfahan. He ordered the construction of the most magnificent works of Islamic architecture in the Isfahan and turned Isfahan into one of the most beautiful and vibrant cities of the time. Naqsh-e Jahan Square along with its surrounding monuments is the most prominent heritage of Shah Abbas I era. In this era, the doors were opened for European visitors and envoys to visit Iran for political, commercial and even religious purposes. After Shah Abbas, weak kings took the throne that resulted in the collapse of the dynasty by the Afghans who ruled over Iran for seven years until Nader Shah (r. 1736-1747), the last great Asian conqueror, pushed them out. Nader Shah chose Mashhad as his capital and invaded India several times and had the Ottoman and Russian armies retreat and evacuate the usurped territories of Iran. He was assassinated in 1747 and was buried in Mashhad. You can visit his mausoleum in Mashhad. The Zands Karim Khan Zand, a General of Nader Shah and a lord, vanquished his rivals to the throne and became the sole ruler of the country after Nader Shah. He chose Shiraz as his capital and called

himself ‘Vakil-o Roaya’ (the one who represents people). He, unlike other kings, had no interests in waging war. Arg- Karim Khan (Karim Khan castle) is a one of his legacies. This dynasty (r. 1750-1794) was short-lived too and it was disintegrated by the Qajars. Aqa Mohamad Khan, the head of Qajar tribes, gradually took control of the whole country and slayed the last leader of Zand dynasty (Lotf Ali Khan) to establish Qajar dynasty (1794-1925). The Qajars It is commonly believed that Qajar dynasty sank the country into an abyss not to rise anytime soon in the future! In this period, European countries, especially Britain and Russia, competed to control the political arena in Iran. Russians even annexed a great part of northern territories of Iran including the present Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Dagestan. The Qajar kings were mostly playful and emptied the treasury to meet their epicurean desires. This led to more influence and interference of foreign states in the internal affairs. In the time of Mozaffar al-din Shah, the fifth king of the dynasty, for the first time in the history of Iran, a national parliament was formed. His son, Mohamad Ali Shah, bombarded the Parliament and dissolved it, but people all over the country revolted and forced Mohamad Ali Shah to abdicate. This is how Iran became a constitutional monarchy. The last Qajar king was Ahmad Shah who was young and inexperienced. During his reign, which coincided with First World War, an ambitious military, Reza Khan, came into fame and subtly rose to power. The Pahlavis Reza khan was a soldier who became commander-in-chief of the army, then prime minister and finally the king. He was progressive and established the Pahlavi dynasty which was in power from 1925 to 1979. Developing infrastructure, introducing modern schools and health system, urbanism along with establishing regular army and fighting Islamic dressing code was among his plans to modernize the country that were not welcomed by the traditional society of Iran. In the World War II, Iran was occupied by allied troops and Reza Khan was forced to abdicate. His 22 year-old son, Mohamad Reza Shah, took the power and remained as Iran’s monarch until 1979 when Islamic revolution ended the monarchy in Iran. It is worth mentioning that Reza Khan changed the name of the country from Persia into Iran (Iran means the land of Aryans).