The Islamic Republic of Iran, previously known as Persia, is the second-largest country in the Middle East. Iran is bordered to the south by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and to the north by the Caspian Sea. Bordering countries include Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and the Azerbaijan enclave of Nakhchivan.
Also part of Iran are several islands in the Persian Gulf, the inhabited islands being Abu Moussa, Bent, Buneh, Dara, Farsi, Farvar, Farvagan, Hendorabi, Hengam, Hormuz, Jonobi, Kharg, Kish, Larak, Lavan, Minu, Qabre Nakhoda, Qeshm, Shatvar, Shif, Shomali, Sirri, Lesser Tunb, and Greater Tunb. One island in the Caspian Sea, Ashuradeh Island, is also part of Iran.
One of the first known human settlements arose, in the lowland region of what is now the Iran province of Khuzestan, around 2600 BC. The Elamites were near Mesopotamia, and the two civilizations were regular opponents in war. By the 12th century BC, the Elamites controlled most of what is now West Iran, the Tigris Valley, and the Persian Gulf coast. Aryan tribes came from the north, settling in what is now the province of Fars, while the Medes settled further north, in what is now Northwest Iran.
Cyrus the Great became king of the First Persian Empire. Over the years since, Iran has been ruled by such people as Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan, and Iran has known several empires, including the Median Empire, the Achaemenid Empire, the Seleucid Empire, the Parthian Empire, and the Sasanian Empire, the latter of which lasted about four centuries before Persia came under the influence of Islam, ushering in the Caliphate and the Sultanate era.
In 633 AD, the Muslims invaded the Sasanian Empire when it was weak, after a bloody civil war. Several Iranian noble families turned against the Empire, and the conquest of Persia by the Muslims meant the end of the Sasanian Empire and led to the decline of Zoroastrianism in Iran. What followed was a succession of Muslim dynasties and periods in which Iran had broken up into feuding states.
After unifying the Mongols, Genghis Khan invaded Iran in 1219 after two diplomatic missions sent by Khan had been killed. Before his death in 1227, Genghis Khan's armies had reached Azerbaijan, destroying cities along their path. After his death, a succession of Khans ruled the region. After flirtations with Christianity and Buddhism, the Khans were forced to adopt Islam.
The discovery of oil in Persia in the early 1900s drew the interest of Europe, and the control over the region was contested between Britain and Russia. During World War I, Persia was occupied by British, Ottoman, and Russian forces. When Russia withdrew following the Russian Revolution in 1919, Britain attempted to set up a protectorate but was not successful. In 1925, Reza Khan became Reza Shah Pahlavi as the result of a coup, establishing the Pahlavi Dynasty.
In an attempt to modernize Iran and improve the status of women, Reza Shah mandated Western dress in public, and attempted to weaken the power of the Islamic religious establishment. This angered or upset many in Iran. During World War II, Reza Shah's support of Nazi Germany led to action by Britain and Russia. Reza was forced into exile in 1941 and his son, Mohammad Reza, succeeded him. In 1943, Britain, Russia, and the United States accepted the independence of Iran.
With the encouragement of the United States, Iran began a period of reforms, including further Westernization of the country. This was too much for the religious establishment, and the Ayatollah Khomeini began a gradual resistance to the shah in 1962. This led to a revolution in the 1970s, and Reza Shah fled the country in 1979. The Ayatollah Khomeini became the power broker in Iran.
The Islamic Republic of Iran was formed in March of 1979, with 98.2% of the public voting in favor. Upon the death of the Ayatollah in 1989, power reverted to the former president, Ali Khamenei. Since then, the office has changed hands through elections several times.
The Iranian people are made up of several ethnic groups. The country has also taken in more than a million refugees from Afghanistan and Iraq, while about five million Iranians have emigrated to other countries. Most Iranians speak Persian, the official language of Iran.
Historically, Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism were dominant in Iran, but this changed through several centuries of Islamic rule. Today, Shia Islam is the official state religion, claiming the adherence of about 95% of the population. Most of the remainder are Sunnis Muslims, with a minority of Christians, Jews, Bahais, Yezidis, Yarsanis, and Zoroastrians. The Iranian government recognizes Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and Sunni Islam as legitimate, with reserved seats in the Iranian Parliament. Bahá'í is not recognized
Recommended Resources
The site assists people to learn Persian or Farsi, offering language and grammar lessons at various levels. Included is the Persian and Farsi alphabets, Persian and Farsi dictionaries, practice phrases, translations. Hundreds of online lessons in speaking, listening, writing, and reading Persian or Farsi as they are spoken in Iran, including free lessons, drills, samples, and other resources.
http://www.easypersian.com/
The guide to hotels and hostels in Iran features photographs, locations, star ratings, directions, and online bookings, which can be found by city or by a search of city, town, or hostel name. A travel guide offers information about attractions and events in Iran, with photographs and video. An overview of Iran 7Coin debit cards, a system that makes it no longer necessary to bring cash while traveling in Iran.
http://www.hostelsiniran.com/
The Cinema Museum of Iran was started in 1994 to collect, safeguard, record, and offer a proper representation of the cinematic heritage of Iran. Situated in Tehran, directions to the museum are set forth, along with its hours of operation, photos, and descriptions of its exhibitions, events, and research facilities. Its tour programs are highlighted, and an artist database may be accessed through the site.
http://www.cinemamuseum.ir/?p=MainPage
Established in 1995, the directory was originally known as Iranian Sites. Featured in English and Farsi, the directory lists sites for businesses, organizations, schools religious institutions, individuals, and issues by topic, organizing listed sites into various predetermined categories. Users may browse through its categories or perform a search by keyword. Sites may also be uploaded for consideration of inclusion.
http://www.the-iranian-directory.com/
IRXP is an online business directory that is focused on international Iranian businesses and traders. Based in Tehran, Iran and Dubai, UAE, the directory lists businesses and industries, such as banking, construction, energy, finance, handicrafts, information technology, insurance, marketing, petrochemical, telecommunications and networking, travel and transportation, and other businesses and services. Businesses may be submitted for consideration.
http://www.irxp.com/
Specializing in adventure travel, custom holidays, and tours to places of interest in Iran, the tour company has been in business since 2001, offering sightseeing tours, as well as opportunities to understand and appreciate the customs and traditions of the people of Iran, to view what daily life is like in Iran, including Persian celebrations and ceremonies. Set itineraries, an overview of the company’s services, travel options, and reviews are featured.
http://viajariran.es/en/
In business since 1998, the Iranian-based company develops, maintains, and hosts websites for businesses of all sizes, governmental organizations, and sole proprietorships, and also offers Internet marketing services, dedicated servers, and other services, currently with facilities in Tehran, Iran and Ontario, Canada. Its products and services, support programs, and general information about the company are set forth.
http://www.ouriran.com/
The goal of the site is to be a guide to business, economic, and finance information relating to Iran and the Middle East, particularly for investors and researchers. A directory of local news media sites is set forth, along with business news, and specifically for the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, and Middle East regions, and all of Iran, culture and lifestyle information, videos, and weather information.
http://www.parstimes.com/
Constructed by Irish Dominicans, the Catholic Church is located in the center of Tehran, India. The site offers a history of Christian and Dominican presence in Iran, as well as a profile of the church, as a place of prayer and dialogue, an overview of its music, the Dominicans, and a library of Dominican books translated or written in the Persian language. A gallery of photographs and Christian art is included.
http://www.irandoms.org/
The daily newspaper began publishing in 1979, as a foreign language newspaper airing the news of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, currently publishing all of its pages in a broadsheet color format. Its web edition includes a profile and history of the publication, society pages, and news articles about the Iranian economy, politics, sports, and culture. Photos and video galleries are presented, and a PDF format of the print paper may be downloaded.
http://www.tehrantimes.com/
