Iran
Islam is a huge influence on government and daily life in Iran.
•Iran’s history includes great empires and an Islamic republic.
•In Iran today, Islamic religious leaders restrict the rights of most Iranians.
HISTORY
•Starting in the 500s BC the Persian Empire ruled the region around present-day Iran.
•The Persian Empire was later conquered by several Muslim empires.
•The Persians converted to Islam, but retained their Persian culture.
ART & STUFF
•For centuries Persia was a great center of art and learning.
–Known for paintings, carpets, metalwork, and architecture
–Walls and statues throughout the empire’s capital, Persepolis, glittered with gold, silver, and precious jewels.
•Iran’s history includes great empires and an Islamic republic.
•In Iran today, Islamic religious leaders restrict the rights of most Iranians.
HISTORY
•Starting in the 500s BC the Persian Empire ruled the region around present-day Iran.
•The Persian Empire was later conquered by several Muslim empires.
•The Persians converted to Islam, but retained their Persian culture.
ART & STUFF
•For centuries Persia was a great center of art and learning.
–Known for paintings, carpets, metalwork, and architecture
–Walls and statues throughout the empire’s capital, Persepolis, glittered with gold, silver, and precious jewels.
The Shah and Islamic Revolution
The recent film ARGO depicts Iran during the 1979-1980 hostage situation.
•1921: An Iranian military officer took power and claimed the old Persian title of shah, or king.
•1941: The shah’s son took control and tried to modernize Iran.
1978: Iranians began a revolution, a drastic change in a country’s government and way of life
•1979: Iranians overthrew the shah and set up an Islamic republic, following strict Islamic law. Relations with the United States broke down. A mob of students attacked the U.S. Embassy in Iran’s capital, Tehran. With the approval of Iran’s government, the students took more than 50 Americans working at the embassy hostage and held them by force for over a year.
•1941: The shah’s son took control and tried to modernize Iran.
1978: Iranians began a revolution, a drastic change in a country’s government and way of life
•1979: Iranians overthrew the shah and set up an Islamic republic, following strict Islamic law. Relations with the United States broke down. A mob of students attacked the U.S. Embassy in Iran’s capital, Tehran. With the approval of Iran’s government, the students took more than 50 Americans working at the embassy hostage and held them by force for over a year.
Iranians Today
- More than half of all Iranians are Persian and speak Farsi.
Most of Iran’s population of 68 million is very young and ethnically diverse. Ethnic
groups include Persians, Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Arabs, and Turks.
Most Iranians belong to the Shia branch of Islam.
In addition to Islamic holy days, Iranians celebrate Nowruz—the Persian New Year.
Iranian culture also includes close-knit families and respect for elders.