History of Iran

AKA Persia

Persian Empire

• Under Cyrus the Great and Darius the Great the Persian Empire became the largest Empire up to that point in history

Persian Empire around 500 BC

Empires of Iran

• Empire was conquered by Alexander the Great• Emerged again as the Parthian Empire

between 225 BC until 230 AD to challenge the Roman Empire

• The area was conquered by Islamic Forces by 1000 AD

• Converted to Islam

What ethnic group was responsible for the spread of Islam during this

time?

Iran’s Empires

• Nearly half of Iran’s population was killed during invasions by Genghis Khan in 1218 AD

• Despite Arab’s invasion, Maintained Persian culture and language

• Shiite Dynasty established with the Safavid Dynasty in 1501

• Maintained independence despite foreign influence in surrounding areas

Iran in the 1900’s

• Formed a Constitutional Monarchy with a parliament in 1906

• 1941 Britain invaded Iran to procure oil rights and prevent relations with Germany

• 1951 the Parliament nationalized oil reserves. Britain raised an embargo on oil from Iran

• Britain and U.S. worked together to overthrow the government of Iran

Iranian Revolution

• The Iranian Revolution, also known as the Islamic Revolution, began in January 1978 with the first major demonstrations against the Shah.

• After strikes and demonstrations paralyzed the country and its economy, the Shah fled the country in January 1979 and Ayatollah Khomeini returned from exile to Tehran.

Iran/Iraq Conflict

• Saddam Hussein sought to take advantage during the revolution

• Tried to take Iran's rich oil fields• Lasted from 1980 to 1988• Over 100,000 Iranians died mostly from

Hussein’s use of chemical weapons

Iranian Revolution

• 4 November 1979, a group of Iranian students seized US embassy personnel, labeling the embassy a "den of spies".

• They accused its personnel of being CIA agents plotting to overthrow the revolutionary government

• 52 hostages were held for 444 days despite a failed rescue attempt and negotiations by then president Jimmy Carter

Who can tell me something about Khomeini?

What is a Constitutional Monarchy?

Operation Ajax• Operation Ajax, the Shah’s rule became increasingly

autocratic. With American support, the Shah was able to rapidly modernize Iranian infrastructure, but he simultaneously crushed all forms of political opposition with his intelligence agency, SAVAK.

• Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini became an active critic of the Shah's White Revolution and publicly denounced the government.

• Khomeini was sent into exile after being imprisoned for 18 months

Khomeini

During the Iranian Revolution, the military was disbanded. What

could happen as a result of this?

What is a theocracy?

Iranian Government• Supreme Leader• the highest ranking political and religious authority• the Leader appoints • the commanders of the armed forces• the director of the national radio and television network• heads of the major religious foundations• the prayer leaders in city mosques• the members of national security councils dealing with defense and

foreign affairs• the chief judge• the chief prosecutor• special tribunals and, with the help of the chief judge• the 12 jurists of the Guardian Council

Iranian Government

• Guardian Council or Council of Guardians• an appointed and constitutionally-mandated 12-

member council that wields considerable power and influence in the Islamic Republic of Iran

• It is charged with interpreting the Constitution of Iran, supervising elections of, and approving of candidates to, the Assembly of Experts, the President and the Majlis

• 6 chosen by Supreme Leader • 6 chosen by Parliament

Iranian Government

• The Assembly of Experts• 86 Mujtahids (Islamic scholars) that are

charged with electing and removing the Supreme Leader of Iran

• supervising his activities• elected from a government-screened list of

candidates by direct public vote to eight-year terms

Iranian Government

• President of Iran• the highest popularly elected official • elected for a four-year term by the direct vote of the

people• may not serve for more than two consecutive terms• responsible for the "functions of the executive", such as

signing treaties, agreements etc. with other countries and international organizations; the national planning and budget and state employment affairs; appointing ministers, governors, and ambassadors subject to the approval of the parliament

How is the position of president different in the United States and

Iran?

Iranian Government

• Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran • 290 representatives• Women were not allowed to vote or be

elected to the Parliament until 1963

In what ways are the United State’s legislature and Iran’s legislature

different?

Judicial System

• Legal code based on Shia Islamic Law• Minister of Law appointed by Supreme Leader• Judges hold absolute power• Some have jury trials

Economy of Iran

• 18th largest economy in the world• Mixed economy but government controls oil

reserves and most industry• 2nd in the world’s natural gas reserves and 4th

in the world’s oil reserves• Economy is largely oil dependent • Attempting to diversify in electronics,

pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and nanotechnology

How is Iran dependent on Oil?

Labor Force (2007)

• agriculture: 25%• industry: 31%• services: 45%• 15.5% Unemployment (2012 est.)

Industry

• Petroleum• petrochemicals,

fertilizers• caustic soda• Textiles• cement and other

construction materials

• food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production)

• Ferrous• non-ferrous metal

fabrication• armaments