A History of Iran (Large Print 16pt)Although frequently vilified, Iran is a nation of great intellectual variety and depth, and one of the oldest continuing civilizations in the world. Its political impact has been tremendous, not only on its neighbors in the Middle East but also throughout the world. From the time of the prophet Zoroaster, to the powerful ancient Persian Empires, to the revolution of 1979, the hostage crisis, and the current standoff over Iran's nuclear ambitions, Michael Axworthy vividly narrates the nation's rich history. He explains clearly and carefully both the complex succession of dynasties that ruled ancient Iran and the surprising ethnic diversity of the modern country, held together by a common culture. With Iran again the focus of the world's attention, A History of Iran is an essential guide to understanding this volatile nation. |
Contents
THE IRANIAN REVIVAL Parthians ancl Sassanids | 46 |
ISLAM AND INVASIONS The Arabs Turks | 101 |
SHIISM AND THE SAFAVIDS | 183 |
THE FALL OF THE SAFAVIDS NADER SHAH | 217 |
THE CRISIS OF THE QAJAR MONARCHY | 280 |
THE PAHLAVIS AND THE REVOLUTION OF 1979 | 335 |
IRAN SINCE THE REVOLUTION Islamic Revival War | 393 |
FROM KHATAMI TO AHMADINEJAD AND THE IRANIAN | 428 |
EPILOGUE | 447 |
Select Bibliography | 496 |
BACK COVER MATERIAL | 524 |
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Common terms and phrases
Abbas Abbasid Achaemenid Afghan Agha Mohammad Ahmadinejad Ahura Mazda al—Din Arab army Arsacid attack Axworthy Ayatollah Azerbaijan Baghdad became British caliph Cambridge century Christian cities court culture Cyrus Darius death defeated dynasty elections Emam Empire Esma‘il Fath Ali Shah followed force Greek History of Iran Hosein I.B. Tauris Ibid important influence Iran’s Iranian history Iraq Iraqi Isfahan Islamic Jews Karbala Khatami Khomeini Khorasan Khosraw killed king large numbers later leader London Majles Mazda Mazdaean Mazdaism Mesopotamia Middle East military Mirza Modern Iran mojtaheds Mongols Mossadeq mullahs Muslims Nader Shah Naser nomads od—Din Ottoman Pahlavi Parthian percent period Persian poetry political provinces Qajar Qezelbash Qor’an reform regime reign religion religious revolution Reza Khan Reza Shah Roman rule Russians Safavid Sassanid shah’s Shapur Shi‘a Shi‘ism story Sufi Sufism Sunni Tehran territory tion took tradition tribes troops Tudeh ulema University Press Western women Zoroastrian