Book for history of iran

Although many left in the wake of the establishment of the state of israel and the 1979 revolution, about 8,756 to 25,000 jewish people live in iran. Yet to the average american the name iran probably conjures up an image of a remote and upstart country inhabited by a people whose religious fanaticism is matched only by the intensity of their disdain for the united states and its values, who speak an obscure tongue called farsi. Michael axworthy, a former british foreign service officer and a lecturer in arabic and islamic studies at the university of exeter. Shahnameh tells the legendary stories of preislamic iran. These works were often written in prose as well as in verse.

Iran is home to one of the worlds oldest continuous major civilizations, with historical and urban settlements dating back to 4000 bc. The history of iran, which was commonly known until the mid20th century as persia in the western world, is intertwined with the history of a larger region, also to an extent known as greater iran, comprising the area from anatolia, the bosphorus, and egypt in the west to the borders of ancient india and the syr darya in the east, and from the caucasus and the eurasian. List of books and articles about iranian history online. Between iran and zion offers the first history of this vibrant community over the course of the last century, from the 1905 constitutional revolution through the 1979 islamic revolution. Oct 30, 2019 the book mocked or at least contained mocking references to the prophet muhammad and other aspects of islam, in addition to and a character clearly based on the supreme leader of iran. The medes unified iran as a nation and empire in 625 bc the islamic conquest of persia 633656 and the end of the sassanid empire was a turning point in iranian history. Reading a name is much easier to reference and remember than having it read aloud. Feb 12, 2014 iran is less a country than a continent, more a civilisation than a nation, says axworthy at the beginning of his masterly history of the islamic republic. The history of iran presented in her book is not exactly objective but no matter, these books are funny and moving. The early history of iran may be divided into three phases. Subjects covered include travel literature, world history, current events, and traditional subjects such as the history of islamic civilization. The clergys revenge a modern history of iran books. It is situated at a strategic juncture in the middle east region of south west asia.

Iran had been a monarchy ruled by a shah, or emperor, almost without. This period was followed by the conquest of alexander the great from greece and the. Jan 06, 2020 another six americans who had escaped the embassy are smuggled out of iran by a team posing as filmmakers, in events dramatised in the 2012 oscarwinning film argo 198586. At its peak in the twentieth century, the population numbered around 100,000. From the tenth century to the late nineteenth century, historical writing became one of the most revered and important literary traditions in the persian language.

Like the epic poetry of greece and scandinavia, the text explores creation myths, tragic love stories, and great wars. Jul 20, 2011 the history of iran presented in her book is not exactly objective but no matter, these books are funny and moving. Around 500 bc, presentday iran was the center of the persian empire. Molavi has a keen and nuanced view of iran, and his book introduces the general reader not only to iran s contemporary history and the struggles of its people, but to the texture of the culture. They cost a lot though in both ebook and hardcopy formats. The book mocked or at least contained mocking references to the prophet muhammad and other aspects of islam, in addition to and a character clearly based on the supreme leader of iran. The first great dynasty in iran was the achaemenid which ruled from 550 to 330 bc. Powerful dynasties have ruled persia, beginning with the achaemenid 559330 bce, which was founded by cyrus the great.

I second quora users opinion and highly recommend the cambridge history of iran series. Jul 10, 2008 simultaneously a history of modern iran is a dialectical analysis of the sociopolitical contradictions of iranian society in the 19th and 20th century. The history of iran, which was commonly known until the mid20th century as persia in the western world, is intertwined with the history of a larger region, also to an extent known as greater iran, comprising the area from anatolia, the bosphorus, and egypt in the west to the borders of ancient india and the syr darya in the east, and from the caucasus and the eurasian steppe in the north to. All aspects of the religious, philosophical, political, economic, scientific and artistic elements in iranian civilisation are studied, with some emphasis on the geographical and ecological factors which. The defiant spirit of the country is brought to life in this monumental history of the past 500 years. Tehran a new persian translation of dutch iranologist willem marius floors book history of bread in iran by saba karkhizan has been published in persian. Brief overview of the history of iran throughout much of early history, the land known today as iran was known as the persian empire. Iran is less a country than a continent, more a civilisation than a nation, says axworthy at the beginning of his masterly history of the islamic republic. With almost three thousand years of history, iran is home to one of the worlds richest and most complex cultures. May 15, 2015 i second quora users opinion and highly recommend the cambridge history of iran series. Amanat searches for patterns to make irans tumultuous history lucid to nonspecialist readers. The dynasty came to power in fourteenthcentury khurasan when the ilkhanid government of northeastern iran, after the death of abu. By 5000 bce, persia hosted sophisticated agriculture and early cities.

History and literature sociology novel psychology women glossary publications policy. Molavi has a keen and nuanced view of iran, and his book introduces the general reader not only to irans contemporary history and the struggles of. Modern iranian culture owes itself in part to a renaissance in the 8th century. The book covers the complex history of the diverse societies and economies of iran against the background of dynastic changes, revolutions, civil wars, foreign occupation, and the rise of the islamic republic. This one covered the known history, not dwelling too much on any given era, balancing politics, war, and empire building with culture.

But the nations history and that historys effects on modern iranian culture, politics and perspectives remains poorly understood by outsiders. In southwestern iran, roughly 650 km 400 mi south of the capital city of tehran, and some 70 km 40 mi northeast of shiraz, a cultivated plain gives way to the zagros mountains. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. A modern history by abbas amanat, paperback barnes. This is an nice overview of the history of iran, from the time of cyrus the great to about 2009.

At the transition between flat land and rugged mountain, at the base of kuhirahmat, or mountain of mercy, lies persepolis. As an audio book, its hard to follow when youre fairly unfamiliar with much of the history of iran. In the 19th and early 20th century, the name aryan was used by europeans to mean all indoeuropeans. Iran history, middle eastern history, books barnes. From them also, thrust up in the wake of the volcanic activity of late pliocene times, came diorite and obsidian, both highly prized in antiquity. From the tenth to the fourteenth centuries a number of persian historians wrote in arabic, the common academic language of the time, including the persian historian abu jafar muhammad ibn jarir altabaris 839923, author of tarikh alrusul wa almuluk, more commonly known as tarikh altabari history of tabari. I like history books, and realized i had never read one specific to persia iran. Judaism has a long history in iran, dating back to the achaemenid conquest of babylonia. The cambridge history of iran is an eightvolume survey of iranian history and culture, and its contribution to the civilisation of the world.

Under ayatollah khomeinis guidance, iran declares itself a theocratic republic guided by islamic principles, and a referendum is held to name it. Jun 26, 2009 molavi has a keen and nuanced view of iran, and his book introduces the general reader not only to irans contemporary history and the struggles of its people, but to the texture of the culture. Iran became a muslim nation during the islamic conquest of the seventh century. Finally, the rivers of iran, racing swiftly through. Jan 06, 2020 2012 october iran s rial currency falls to a new record low against the us dollar, losing 80% of its value since 2011 because of international sanctions. It unquestionably is a distinguished reference for those looking for a beautifully written narrative of contemporary history of iran.

History of iran simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The best books on iranian history five books expert. History a thousand years of the persian book exhibitions. The persian empire is the name given to a series of dynasties centered in modernday iran that spanned several centuriesfrom the sixth century b. With iran again the focus of the worlds attention, a history of iran is an essential guide to understanding this volatile nation. A history of iran, one of several recent books that aim to draw back the gloomy curtain of recent events, aims to increase the general readers awareness of the richness and uniqueness of the iranian heritage. Early history to the zand dynasty iran has a long and rich history.

The history of iran, which was commonly known until the mid20th century as persia in the western world, is intertwined with the history of a larger region, also to an extent known as greater iran, comprising the area from anatolia, the bosphorus, and egypt in the west to the borders of ancient india and the syr darya in the east, and from the. Iran is home to the largest jewish population in the middle east, outside of israel. Nevertheless its informative and extensive in the research and arching themes of irans political, military and social history of the last 500 years. In his new book he presents the past five centuries of irans history in its persian, shia context. Iran, a mountainous, arid, and ethnically diverse country of southwestern asia. Willem floors book on history of bread in iran published. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. The dynasty came to power in fourteenthcentury khurasan when the ilkhanid government of northeastern iran, after the death of abu said, had disintegrated into several local domains. Yet to the average american the name iran probably conjures up an image of a remote and upstart country inhabited by a people whose religious fanaticism is matched only by the intensity of their disdain for the united states and its values, who speak an obscure tongue. Amanats strength lies in tracing the vast political, economic, social, and religious history of iran from the beginnings of the safavid empire in the 1500s through the consolidation. Your first book is khomeinism by ervand abrahamian yes, abrahamian is one of the leading historians of modern iran. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. The subtitle empire of the mind denotes some emphasis on cultural aspects of iran, as well as the history of the country and the various dynasties who have ruled the area that was once referred to as persia.

Simultaneously a history of modern iran is a dialectical analysis of the sociopolitical contradictions of iranian society in the 19th and 20th century. Iran has the largest jewish population in the middle east outside of israel. The earliest archaeological findings from persia date to the paleolithic era, 100,000 years ago. History of iran simple english wikipedia, the free. A history of modern iran goes through the modern history of iran in very clear, very understandable language without, unlike most books about the topic, having to rely on hearsay, unverified accounts or personal or politically motivated interpretations of event. Another six americans who had escaped the embassy are smuggled out of iran by a team posing as filmmakers, in events dramatised in the 2012 oscarwinning film argo 198586. Irans isolation from the rest of the world is lessening, slowly. He always writes very interesting things about the social and political history of the country and this book is actually a collection of essays that he has written on the islamic revolution and its aftermath. Abbas amanat combines chronological and thematic approaches, exploring events with lasting implications for modern iran and the world. Jul 20, 2018 iran s majority centrallyplanned economy depends upon oil and gas exports for between 50 and 70% of its revenue. Kamin mohammadis top 10 iranian books books the guardian.

I feel like i have a much better understanding of currentday iran, including its different factions, because i read the book. It unquestionably is a distinguished reference for those looking for a beautifully written narrative of. The iranian revolution past, present and future chapter 1 the historical background iran is one of the worlds oldest countries. The books greatest achievement is that it helps the reader to straightforwardly navigate historical events since late nineteenth century that have shaped todays iran. Richard spencer, the times london no book could be more pertinent for american readers. The heart of the persian empire of antiquity, iran has long played an important role in the region as an imperial power and as a factor in superpower rivalries. Some of the worlds most ancient settlements have been excavated in the caspian region and on the iranian plateau. The name iran comes from aryan and is also mentioned in the ancient book of the zoroastrians, which was called the avesta. This book is a major contribution to the scholarship on the fortyfiveyear history of the sarbadar dynasty. Willem floors book on history of bread in iran published in. Even for those who are well acquainted with modern iran will most certainly find the book stimulating and helpful.