Iran in World History

Home of one of the world’s most ancient and enduring civilizations, Iran has been at the nexus of world history for the past three thousand years. Situated at the crossroads between East and West, it has been marked by its encounters with other cultures and has influenced them with its own. From paradise gardens and Persian carpets to the mystical poetry of Rumi and Hafez, Iran’s contributions have earned it a place among history’s most refined and sophisticated societies. In this book, Richard Foltz traces the spread of Iranian culture among diverse populations ranging from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, and along the Silk Roads as far as China, from prehistoric times up to the present day. He emphasizes the range of contributions Iran has made to world history by highlighting the roles of key figures such as the ancient empire-builders Cyrus the Great and Darius I, the medieval polymath Avicenna, and early modern Mughal rulers such as Shah Jahan, who built India’s

celebrated Taj Mahal.

From the establishment of the Pahlavi dynasty by Reza Shah in 1925 until the 1979 revolution under the charismatic leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran embarked on a modernization process that led to the spread of literacy and the growth of the women’s movement, making it one of the most advanced nations in the developing world. Lack of political freedoms has continued to frustrate many Iranians, however, and the country is often seen as an international pariah in the West. Iran today is rarely treated well in Western news headlines, despite remarkable achievements by individual Iranians in a wide range of fields. Encompassing religion, literature, the arts, and politics, Iran in World History offers a comprehensive history of one of the world’s most influential civilizations and offers nuanced examples of its continuing role in the world today.

Contents

Chapter 1 A Convergence of Land and Language  (3500–550 bce)

Chapter 2 Iran and the Greeks (550–247 bce)

Chapter 3 Parthians, Sasanians, and Sogdians (247 bce–651 ce)

Chapter 4 The Iranization of Islam (651–1027)

Chapter 5 The Turks: Empire-Builders and Champions of Persian Culture (1027–1722)

Chapter 6 Under Europe’s Shadow (1722–1925)

Chapter 7 Modernization and Dictatorship: The Pahlavi Years (1925–1979)

Chapter 8 The Islamic Republic of Iran (1979–present)

Review

“[I]t is particularly well written and will be a quick, enjoyable read for those interested in learning about Iranian history and culture…Essential.”–CHOICE

“Richard Foltz analyses the socio-political reasons that led to the Islamic Revolution of 1979 in Iran; he discusses also the history of the country in the aftermath, with a fair amount of objectivity and impartiality. Among the advantages of the book I would mention the ample photographic materials and a brief chronology of the Iranian history.” — Anton Evstratov, Iran and the Caucasus

“Any reader looking for a concise, yet all-inclusive history of Iran, or the development and interactions of world civilizations in general would enjoy Foltz’s new book.”–The Middle East Journal

About the Author

Richard Foltz is Professor of Iranian Studies at Concordia University in Montréal, Canada. He holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University and previously taught at Columbia, Brown, and the University of Florida. Having written on topics ranging from Animal Rights to Zoroastrianism, his earlier books include Religions of Iran: From Prehistory to the Present and Religions of the Silk Road.