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The Arab Islamic ounburst from the Aranian Peninsula led to a series of stateling conquests. One of thee was the conquest of Persia (637–51). Arabs fired by Islam invaded Iran (637). They prevailed after several major battles. Persian Emperor Yazdegerd III fled from one district to another as Arab armiespursued him. The Arabs had conquered Greater Khorasan (included modern Iranian Khorasan Afghanistan Transoxania) (674). This was something no coqueror since Alexander was able to achieve. This led to the distruction of the Sassanid Empire. Major cultural chages folloed, including the decline of Zoroastrianism as Peria ws Islamicized. the achievements of the previous Persian civilizations were absorbed into Persia's new Islamic socety. Islam has been the stae religion ever since with the short excetion after the Mongol invasion and establishment of the Ilkhanate. The modern Iranian monarchy was founded by Ismail I (1501). He ended what is called the 'fourth era' of political fragmentation. Ismail founded the Safavid dynasty (1501-1740). The other dynasties were the Afsharids, Zands, Qajars, and Pahlavis. The Iranian shahs or emperors ruled as absolute monarchs until the Persian Constitutional Revolution (1905-11). At that time, Iran became a constitutional monarchy. Reza Shah overthrew Ahmad Shah Qajar and founded the Pahlavi Dynasty (1925). He changed the name of the country to Iran, a name wgich had racist associations with the pre-historic Aryan peoples. Reza Shah had NAZI orientations. The Soviet Union and Britain occupied the country during World War II to ensure the safe passage of Lend Lease materials. The British replaced Reza Shah with his young son--Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. He proved to be the last shah. The Islamic Revolution led by the Ayatollah Khomeini forced Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to flee the country. The Islamic Revolution abolished the monarchy and created a theocratic republic (1979).
Cyrus the Great founded the Peraian Empire and the Achaemenid Dynasty. Persia was one of the great ancient empires. Cyrus' decendents such as Xerxes and tree Dariuses were among the great figures of the ancient world. Although Alexander conquered the Persian Empire, new dynasties revived it and it became the primary impediment to Roman expansion east. The Germans and Persians were the next peoples Caesar lanned to cnquer when he was assasinated. The Sasanian Empire was the last Persian Empire before the rise of Islam. it was ruled by the Sasanian dynasty (224-651 AD).
The Arabs fired by Mohammed's Islamic teachings swept out of the Arabian Peninsula and through the Holy Land and Mesopotamia, first driving back the Byzatines. Arab armies after the conquest of the Byzantine Levant turned east to Persia. The Persian Empire confronted by Arab armies had been weakened by war with the Byzantine Empire. Arab warriors, fired by Islamic fervor, smashed much larger Persian armies. The Arabs first seized Mesopotamia (modetn Iraq) from the Persians and then conquered Persia itself. Arab armies continued Omar's military campaigns. The crossed the Euphrates and attacked the Persian Sassanian Empire. Arab horsemen proved a devestatingly effective military force. Arab armies defeated much larger Sassanian armies. They entered Ctesiphon (637). This was followed by other victories. Their victory at Nahavand (642) opened the way to the Iranian plateau. Persia was incorporated into the Islamic Calipate. Our knowledge of the Arab conquest comes almost entirely from Arab accounts. As so often in the ancient world, the only surviving accouts are those of the victors. The Arab writings are often self-serving descriptions of marshal bravado. They stress the simple virtues of the pious, egalitarian Bedouin and look down on the aristocratic Persian foes often described as effeminate. At the time most in the people in the region were Christians and Zoroastrians. Islam when the Arab conquet began, developed approches for dealing with the "conquered peoples". The conquered peoples were "protected persons" only if they submitted to Islamic domination by a "Contract" (Dhimma), paid poll tax - jizya - and land tax - haraj - to their masters. Any failure to do so was the breach of contract, enabling the Muslims to kill or enslave them and confiscate their property. The cross could not be displayed in public and the people of the book had to wear special clothing or a belt. Their men were not allowed to marry Muslim women, their slaves had to be sold to a Muslim if they converted and they were not allowed to carry weapons. They had to take in Muslim travelers, especially soldiers on a campaign. This took place after a decade when Muhammad was dead and when his second successor and son-in-law Umar announced these terms to conquered Christians. The resulting inequality of rights in all domains between Muslims and dhimmis was geared to a steady erosion of the latter communities by attrition and conversion. Zoroastrianism was gradually replaced by Islam as the majority religion of the Persian people. While these provisions seem draconian, they were less rigorous at the time than the approaches taken when Christians conquered Islamic principalities. Persia was not, however, Arabized like Mesopotamia, the Levant, Egypt, North Africa, Somalia, and Sudan. At in part out of resistance to the Arabs, the Shiia sect of Islam became dominant in Persia.
Several Moslem dynasties ruled Persia after the Arab conquest. Following te collapse of the Abbasid Caliphate (946), there were the Saffarid dynasty (861–1003), Buyid Empire (934–1062), Great Seljuq Empire (1029–1194), and the Khwarezmid Empire (1153–1231). The came the Mongol conquest and absorbtion of Persia into the Mongol Empire (1230–1357). Then came a series of Rival Dynasties (1332–1501).
The modern Iranian monarchy was founded by Ismail I (1501). He ended what is called the 'fourth era' of political fragmentation. Ismail founded the Safavid (صفويلر سولالهسى) dynasty (1501-1740). The Safavids were was one of the most significant Persian dynasties, essentially bringing Persia into the modern era. The Safavid shahs ruled over what historians sometimes refer to as one of the so-called Gunpowder Empires. The Gunpowder Empires refer to the Muslim Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal empires. Each of these three empires were constructed through military successes resulting from newly developed gunpowder powered firearms, especially cannon and small arms. The Safavids the greatest Persian empire following the Arab conquest of Persia. The Safavids founded the Twelver school of Shi'a Islam as the official state religion of their empire. This proved to be one of the most important turning points in Muslim history ans a decesion that still reverbreates powerfully throughout the Middle East today. The time span od the Safavid Dynasty ws atime of enormous change with the Reformation, Enlightenment as well as the birth of science in Europe. None of thesee developments had any impact on Iranian sciety which remained essentially medieval. It was not just the Safavid rulers. The countries conservative Islamic clergy opposed and preached aganst almost all of the social ad cultural changes that were creating midernity in Europe.
Two short-livd dynasties followed the Safavids: the Afsharid dynasty (1736–96) and the Zand dynasty (1751–1794).
The Qajar Dynasty brught Persia into the 20th century, at least cronologically. At atime of enormous change in Europe, Persia remained essentially medieval, evn more so than the Ottomans who had more contact with the European. Important for the Qajars was the Cossack Brigade. They were an elite cavalry unit, essentially alarge Pratorian Guard. The Cssock Brigade was formed as demands for feformed increased in Persia (1879). They were essentially the only effective military force formed by the Qajar Dynasty. They played a central role in the Revolution of 1905–1911. The Iranian shahs ruled as absolute monarchs until the Persian Constitutional Revolution (1905-11). At that time, Iran became a constitutional monarchy.
Military commander Reza Khan founded the Pahavi Dynasty. He was an officer in Iran's Cossack Brigade--the cuntry's only important military force. He used loyal troops to overthrow the Qajar Dynasty. In only 4 years he suppressed opposition and rebellions and had establishing order. He convened a special asembly of his carefully chosen supporters (1925). The assembly officially deposed Ahmad Shah, the last Qajar shah, and named Reza Khan, who earlier had adopted the surname Pahlavi, as the new shah. This established the Pahlavi Dynasty. The new Shah had ambitious plans for modernizing Iran which was still an essentially medieval country. His program of modrnization included founding large-scale industries, launching important infrastructure projects, building a cross-country railroad system, creating a public education system, reforming the judiciary, and improving sanitation and health care. While this may sound like aprogram allcould support, Persia wa not only medieval but one of the most important influnces in the country was a very conservative Islamic clergy that was not at all interested in many of these pograms. Beza Shah
was determined to pursue his program and believed that a strong, centralized government managed by educated government officils could carry out his plans. And to carry it out, he sent hundreds of people (including his son) to Europe for education. There was a focus on technical training. Reza Shah's modernization program begn the transformation of the country, beginning thetransformation from essentially a medieval, rural society into an industrial, urbanized country. A priority was given to ublic education and huge strides were made, including educating girls. For the first time a professional middle class and an industrial working class assumed some importance. There were other consequences. Reza Shah's dictatorial style cause dissatisfaction not only among conservative religious circles, but liberal intellectual elites. Reza Shah adired European technology, but not liberal democracy. He turned to NAZI Germany for suort, not only because of an ideologcal affinity, but to reduce British and Soviet influence which he saw as a dangerous threats. Like the Arabs, he was largely oblivious to German expanionst goals. He changed the name of the country to Iran, a name which had racist associations with the pre-historic Aryan peoples. It in large measure reflected the rising racist sentiment in Europe, esprecially Germany (1935). The Soviet Union and Britain as a result of NAZI inluences occupied the country during World War II (1941). This ensure the safe passage of vital Lend Lease materials. The British replaced Reza Shah with his young son--Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. After World War II, the new Shah continued his father's modernization program. Enormous progress was made, but like his father saw no need for democracy and ruled with a secret police force--SAVK. Depite the enrmous material progress, the Shah managed to alienate virtually all impotant Iranian grous, not only the conservative Ilamic ckergy, but alo more modern groups, incliding the libral inteligencia, industrialists, tecnocrats, anf merchnts. He also lost the young oeople who benefitted from all the new schools and job opportunities. He proved to be the last shah. The Islamic Revolution led by the Ayatollah Khomeini forced Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to flee the country. The Islamic Revolution abolished the monarchy and created a theocratic republic (1979).
The Shah's son is the still living head of the dynasty.
Military commander Reza Khan founded the Pahavi Dynasty. He was an officer in Iran's Cossack Brigade--the cuntry's only important military force. He used loyal troops to overthrow the Qajar Dynasty. In only 4 years he suppressed opposition and rebellions and had establishing order. He convened a special asembly of his carefully chosen supporters (1925). The assembly officially deposed Ahmad Shah, the last Qajar shah, and named Reza Khan, who earlier had adopted the surname Pahlavi, as the new shah. This established the Pahlavi Dynasty. The new Shah had ambitious plans for modernizing Iran which was still an essentially medieval country. His program of modrnization included founding large-scale industries, launching important infrastructure projects, building a cross-country railroad system, creating a public education system, reforming the judiciary, and improving sanitation and health care. While this may sound like aprogram allcould support, Persia wa not only medieval but one of the most important influnces in the country was a very conservative Islamic clergy that was not at all interested in many of these pograms. Beza Shah
was determined to pursue his program and believed that a strong, centralized government managed by educated government officils could carry out his plans. And to carry it out, he sent hundreds of people (including his son) to Europe for education. There was a focus on technical training. Reza Shah's modernization program begn the transformation of the country, beginning thetransformation from essentially a medieval, rural society into an industrial, urbanized country. A priority was given to ublic education and huge strides were made, including educating girls. For the first time a professional middle class and an industrial working class assumed some importance. There were other consequences. Reza Shah's dictatorial style cause dissatisfaction not only among conservative religious circles, but liberal intellectual elites. Reza Shah adired European technology, but not liberal democracy. He turned to NAZI Germany for support, not only because of an ideologcal affinity, but to reduce British and Soviet influence which he saw as a dangerous threats. Like the Arabs, he was largely oblivious to German expanionst goals. He changed the name of the country to Iran, a name which had racist associations with the pre-historic Aryan peoples. It in large measure reflected the rising racist sentiment in Europe, esprecially Germany (1935).
The Soviet Union and Britain as a result of NAZI inluences occupied the country during World War II (1941). This ensure the safe passage of vital Lend Lease materials. The British replaced Reza Shah with his young son--Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. After World War II, the new Shah continued his father's modernization program. Enormous progress was made, but like his father saw no need for democracy and ruled with a secret police force--SAVAK. Despite the enrmous material progress, the Shah managed to alienate virtually all impotant Iranian grous, not only the conservative Ilamic ckergy, but alo more modern groups, incliding the libral inteligencia, industrialists, technocrats, anf merchants. He also lost the young oeople who benefitted from all the new schools and job opportunities. He proved to be the last shah. The Islamic Revolution led by the Ayatollah Khomeini forced Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to flee the country. The Islamic Revolution abolished the monarchy and created a theocratic republic (1979).
The Shah's eldest son was born in Tehran (1960). His mother was Shahbanu Farah Pahlavi. The other children include his sister Princess Farahnaz Pahlavi (1963), brother Prince Ali-Reza Pahlavi (1966), and sister Princess Leila Pahlavi (1970–2001), as well as a half-sister, Princess Shahnaz Pahlavi (1941- ). After completing his secondary education in Iran, Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi left Iran at the age of 17 for air force training (1977). This was 2 years before the Islamic. After the Islamc Revolution, Iraqi President Saddam Hussein launche an invasion of of Iran. Reza Pahlavi wrote to General Valiollah Fallahi, Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic, offering as atrained pilot to fight in the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force. There was no reply Reza Pahlavi tday is popular with the many Iranian expatriates and secretly some of his countrymen in Iran. According to one Irnian expert, “in Iran, there are two names known to virtually all, even in the most remote villages. The first name is Khamenei and the second one is Reza Pahlavi. Reza Pahlavi was named Iran's Person Of The Year by an online poll conducted by the U.S. government-financed external broadcaster Radio Farda that included thousands of Iranian respondents inside and outside Iran (2011). After Fars News Agency boosted its anti-Pahlavi campaign, Reza Pahlavi founded his own television and radio network called OfoghIran (NOvember 2014). He is s the still living head of the dynasty. He is the pretender to the former Iranian throne. Reza Pahlavi is the founder and leader of National Council of Iran, a government in exile.
Ellia, Afshin is an Iranian-born philosopher of law and expert in international law.
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