Sleepy History - Iran

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Starting point is 00:01:24 ontario.ca. Amazon presents Laura versus fruit flies. Swarming your fruit and terrorizing your kitchen. These little freaks multiply at a rate that would make a rabbit say yo. Chill. But Laura shopped on Amazon and saved on cleaning spray, countertop wipes and fly traps. Hey, fruit flies, your baby boom ends here. Save the everyday with Amazon. Both geographically and culturally, Iran is at a crossroads. And really, it's been in the middle of it all for thousands of years. Iran, or Persia, as it was once known in the West, has an extraordinarily rich history. Over the centuries, it's seen the rise and fall of many powerful dynasties and empires.

Starting point is 00:02:25 It's the land of Persepolis and some of the greatest literature in any language. It's also home to a unique Islamic culture. To understand modern Iran, in all its complexity, we need to unravel its past. So just relax and let your mind drift as we explore the sleepy history of Iran. Out in the desert stand the ruins of a great city. Against the backdrop of a pale blue sky, the stone is striking, monumental walls, soaring columns. and a vast stone gateway. The sculpted guardians of the gate are two winged creatures,

Starting point is 00:03:28 with the bodies of bulls and the bearded heads of men. They're protective deities, still watching over the remains of Persepolis. Until its destruction by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCE, Persepolis was one of the most impressive cities. in the world. Built by Darius the Great, it was the magnificent ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire. What remains a Persepolis today is just a shadow of its former glory, but it's a poignant symbol for the history of Iran. A history will be exploring in as much depth

Starting point is 00:04:19 as time allows us. The country we now know as Iran has been inhabited for many thousands of years. In fact, it has one of the oldest long-standing civilizations in the world. Some settlements date back to the 5th millennium BCE, more than 6,000 years ago. One of the most important ancient cities was Sousa, located near the Zagros Mountains in western Iran, founded in the late 5th millennium BCE. Sousa was one of the capitals of the Elam civilization. The people who once lived there left behind countless tantalizing traces of their existence.

Starting point is 00:05:18 In addition to the ruins of the city, the remains of a palace complex and sprawling settlements, many intriguing artifacts have been unearthed. Goblets, jewelry, engraved tablets, statuettes, Each object is part of the city's story, reflecting a different era of history. For centuries, Sousa was a beacon of civilization, a bustling center of trade and commerce. It was also the place where two great cultures met and influenced one another, the civilizations of the Iranian plateau and the Mesopotamians,

Starting point is 00:06:09 Mesopotamia, present-day Iraq, was Iran's neighbor to the west. It's often referred to as the cradle of civilization. But in many ways, ancient Iran was just as sophisticated. Some achievements are truly remarkable. For instance, near Sousa are the evocative remains of Choga Zambil. It's a huge zygirat, a stepped, monumental, pyramid structure that was built around the 13th century BCE. Many artworks and artifacts found in this region are of exceptional quality. Also noteworthy is the early evidence of writing. Tablets have been

Starting point is 00:07:04 found with inscriptions in Proto-Elamite script, a writing system used in Iran in the early Bronze Age, which emerged around the same time as cuneiform. Although the script hasn't been fully deciphered, one tablet seems to contain an inventory of livestock, 47 nanny goats, eight billy goats, six female sheep, and so on. Still, as mundane as this may seem, tablets are an exciting find.

Starting point is 00:07:43 They're evidence of some of the oldest writing in the world. It's worth remembering that in the Bronze Age, most of the world's population was living in relatively small and modest societies. The people of ancient Iran, on the other hand, were building palaces, temples and monuments. Over time, cultures in the region became not only increasingly sophisticated, but powerful. Skipping forward to the 7th century BCE, We come to the Median kingdom, a mighty political entity that's thought to have dominated much of the Iranian plateau. Media was a major power, and it has sometimes been referred to as an empire. However, most historians now think this is a slight exaggeration.

Starting point is 00:08:51 An example of the Greek historian Herodotus getting carried away. Still, it seems likely that Median kings ruled over huge swathes of territory, and for perhaps the first time in history, the peoples of Iran united on a significant scale. There was now a counterbalance to other powers in the region, such as Lydia and Babylon. The Median kingdom paved the way for Iran's first true undisputed empire. The Achaemenid Empire. Founded by Cyrus the Great, the Acumenid Empire was the largest of its time. It stretched all the way across Iran and included many other neighboring regions, from the Balkans in the west to the Indus Valley in the east.

Starting point is 00:09:59 By 500 BCE, it's thought that the Acuminid Empire covered more than 2 million square miles. and had a population of up to 35 million people. According to some estimates, it ruled around 40% of the world's population. The Ecumenid Empire would leave a lasting legacy, changing the way the rest of the world viewed Iran and its people. According to the German philosopher Hegel, the Persians were the first historical people, the origins of the name Perkins. Persia, can be traced back to people living in a part of southwestern Iran, known as Parsa or Persis. In ancient Greek, this became Persia.

Starting point is 00:11:01 Over time, this name came to refer to the whole Iranian plateau, and throughout much of history, this is the name that Iran has been known by in the West. Traditionally, however, many people living in this region have called their country Iran, meaning land of the Aryans. The issue of Iranian identity is complex and multifaceted, with many shifts throughout history. But it's interesting to note what Aryan or Aryan meant thousands of years ago. The ancient word was associated with a person's lineage. and the language they spoke. It had nothing to do with race.

Starting point is 00:11:58 The Achaemenid Empire lasted from 550 to 330 BCE. To some extent, this was a golden age for the region. Aside from being a huge empire with substantial military power, the Achauminid Empire stands out for its many societal achievements. These included centralized bureaucracy. major infrastructure projects, and a surprisingly modern approach when it came to tolerance of different cultures and religions. Some of these developments took place during the reign of Darius the Great. Under his rule, the empire was skillfully governed and organized, and there were many large-scale construction projects.

Starting point is 00:12:57 Darius improved road networks, including the famous. famous Royal Road, this highway stretched nearly 1,700 miles across the western part of the Empire. Improved road conditions made it much easier for couriers and traders to travel across the land. The Greek historian Herodotus wrote approvingly, there is nothing in the world that travels faster than these Persian couriers. Another of Darius's projects, is one we mentioned right at the beginning, the spectacular city of Persepolis. With its majestic palace and other colossal buildings,

Starting point is 00:13:47 richly decorated with lotus flowers, winged lions, columns and reliefs, Persepolis would have been quite a sight to behold. Sadly, however, it was destroyed after being taken over by the army of Alexander. under the Great in 330 BCE, the Achaemenid Empire ended when it was annexed to the Macedonian Empire. But this was just a brief interval in Iran's history. Other great Iranian empires would rise to power in the following centuries, including the Parthian Empire. The Parthians came from the

Starting point is 00:14:35 northeast of the region. And their empire endured for nearly 500 years. They were a major military power, defeating the Roman army in the Battle of Kerry in 53 BC. In the 3rd century CE, the Parthians were overthrown by the Sasanians, a dynasty from Persis in southwestern Iran. The Sasanian Empire is also considered a high point in the history of Iran. It ruled for about 400 years and oversaw a flourishing civilization that would influence not just Iran, but other more distant cultures.

Starting point is 00:15:31 This era could be considered a kind of Iranian Renaissance. Art, architecture, literature, music and philosophy, they all blossomed. At the time, the official religion was Zoroastrianism. This ancient faith originated in Iran around the 6th century BC, or possibly earlier. It was based on the scripture of the Avesta and the teachings of Zoroaster. The theology of Zoroastrianism involves multiple tiers of divine beings and the worship of the sky god Ahura Mazda. According to one text,

Starting point is 00:16:27 he has 101 names, including the Lord of All, creator of the entire creation, and transformer of air into fire. Fire has an important ritual role in Zoroastrianism. Dedicated places, of worship, known as fire temples, were built throughout Iran. And while most are no longer active, modern Zoroastrians still worship at the fire temple of Yazd in central Iran. The temple was built in the 1930s, but the sacred fire inside is said to have been burning since the 5th century. Although other religions were practiced in ancient Iran, including Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism, Zoroastrianism was by far the most influential. As the state religion, it shaped politics and culture and the organization of Iranian society,

Starting point is 00:17:45 including a strict class hierarchy. However, change was on the horizon. A change that would see the gradual decline of Zoroastrianism and a radical shift in Iran's culture and identity that endures to this day. We're talking, of course, about the arrival of Islam. In the 7th century, under the rule of the Sasanian Empire, Iran was experiencing a period of internal instability.

Starting point is 00:18:29 Their army had also been weakened by a devastating war, the Byzantine-Sassanian War, which ended in the year 628. Meanwhile, in the nearby Arabian Peninsula, the first Islamic Empire had risen to power. The Rashidun Caliphate. It expanded rapidly. and in 633, the Rashidun army began a series of invasions in Sasanian territory. Over the following years, it took over, an event known as the Arab conquest or the Muslim conquest.

Starting point is 00:19:19 Now, there are a couple of things we need to consider here. Firstly, while the term conquest implies something total and all-encompassing, The Islamization of Iran was actually more gradual. Not everyone converted. And in some places, people continued to practice Zoroastrianism for centuries. Another thing to keep in mind is that in many ways, the previous culture of the Iranians survived. Some aspects were adopted by the new regime, and what happened over the following years was essentially a cultural interchange. While Iran developed a new Islamic culture, it also retained many parts of

Starting point is 00:20:15 its old identity with pride. The Persian language survived. To an extent, this helps us to understand modern-day Iran as an Islamic country with a very distinctive national identity and pride in its history. That being said, the interpretation of certain historical events depends on one's personal viewpoint and beliefs. Some see the Arab conquest as a triumph and the beginning of a new Iran. Others might highlight the case of the Zoroastrians, many of whom were persecuted and forced to convert, while the shift was slow and gradual. It was definitive. Iran became a Muslim nation.

Starting point is 00:21:19 Fast forwarding to the 13th century, we come to another defining event in Iranian history, the Mongol conquest. At the time, Iran was part of a Sunni Muslim empire, known as the Warasmian Empire. Although it was vast and hugely powerful, it was no match for the Mongols. Under their ruler, Genghis Khan, the Mongols conquered the Warasmian Empire in just a couple of years.

Starting point is 00:21:55 It was an astonishing feat, considering the size of the empire. But the Mongol army was highly organized and utterly ruthless. It's thought that on the Iranian plateau, millions lost their lives. By 1221, many cities in Iran had been destroyed. There was also an agricultural recession, which triggered a more general economic decline. And naturally, there was a period of cultural decline, too, as libraries, schools and mosques were burned down. But the people of Iran were resilient, and culture has a way of enduring.

Starting point is 00:22:54 One of Iran's greatest cultural achievements is undoubtedly its. literature. In particular, there's a rich history of Persian poetry. Scholars and thinkers would often use verse when writing about other disciplines, such as science, medicine, and metaphysics. During the Samanid Empire, in the early 11th century, an influential figure was Ibn Sina. In the West, he's known as Avicina. Avicina. Avicina was a philosopher and physician, whose work had a profound influence in the Muslim world and beyond. Some of his texts are written in verse.

Starting point is 00:23:52 One of the most important works of Persian literature was composed around the same time, the late 10th or 11th century. The Sharnameh, or Book of Kings, is an epic poem by Ferdasi. In 50,000 rhyming couplets, Ferdasie recounts the mythology and history of Iran. The Book of Kings was hugely influential, a literary masterpiece that's helped to preserve and shape Iran's national identity. Another Persian poet also happens to be one of the most famous poets in any language.

Starting point is 00:24:40 Rumi was a Sufi mystic who lived in the 13th century. century during the turbulent times of the Mongol conquest. He eventually settled in the city of Konya, in what is now, Tokiyya. There, he formed a close relationship with a wandering dervish, a Muslim living on austere lifestyle for spiritual reasons. This relationship, and Rumi's own spiritual beliefs and practices as a Sufi, influenced his poetic output. Rumi was a prolific writer, producing some of the most celebrated poetry in Persian literature. What's interesting is that his work also resonates outside of Iran. Rumi is often referred to as the best-selling poet in the United States.

Starting point is 00:25:45 His poetry continues to be widely read. Perhaps it's the universality of his themes and rather modern directness. of his style. Before we move on, here's something to consider. Today, Rumi remains a well-known name across the world. In contrast, many of the great rulers of the past have faded into relative obscurity. That being said, in the late 14th century, Iran was ruled by a man who undeniably went down in history. Timor had an eventful life. to say the least, he was a Turko-Mongol conqueror and the first ruler of the Timurid Empire, which included Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and much of Central Asia.

Starting point is 00:26:50 Timor was renowned for both his prowess and his brutality as a military leader. The Elizabethan play Tamborane by the English playwright Christopher Marlowe is loosely based on Timor's life. At one point, the character declares, I mean to be a terror to the world, which more or less sums it up. And yet, during his devastating military campaigns, Timor presumably still found time for his many wives and concubines, 43 by some accounts. A busy man, Timor was also a patron of the arts. The Timurid Renaissance, which began in the late 14th century, was roughly contemporary with the European Renaissance.

Starting point is 00:27:52 Over the next hundred years, there was a revival of classical poetry and the fields of art, architecture, and science all flourished. Politically, however, things were unstable. The 15th century saw numerous civil wars and invasions. and the power of the Timurid dynasty gradually diminished. Naturally, another power was waiting in the wings ready to take over. The Safavid Empire, which lasted from 1501 to 1736, is seen by many historians as the start of modern Iranian history. It was a true turning point, the beginning of a new era for Iran.

Starting point is 00:28:48 From the late 16th century under the rule of Abbas the Great, Iran became much more stable, unified and prosperous. The arts flourished and Abbas oversaw numerous large-scale architectural projects. He made the city of Isfahan the nation's capital. And to this day, it remains a magnificent. magnificent example of Safavid architecture. One of the most spectacular buildings is the Shah Mosque, completed around 1630. It's an enormous structure said to contain more than 18 million bricks and nearly 500,000 tiles. With its dazzling blue dome and towering minarets, the Shah Mosque is a symbol of Safavid's splendor.

Starting point is 00:29:55 Of course, it also represents the importance of Islam in Iran. This brings us to one of the most significant events of the Safavid era. Iran's conversion to Shia Islam. There are two major branches of Islam in the world, Sunni and Shia. While the two groups share most core beliefs, there are also some significant. significant differences. These differences were initially political, but became spiritual. For instance, Sunni and Shia Muslims have differing views over Muslim leadership. Shias believe that true leadership belongs to the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad. Over the years, the Safavid dynasty

Starting point is 00:31:01 transformed Iran into a Shia nation. To some extent, this was a gradual, natural shift. But it also involved forced conversion and the persecution of Sunni Muslims and those of other faiths. The transition was a major upheaval with a lasting impact. It might be compared to the Reformation in Europe, which took place around the same time. Despite facing significant pushback internally and alienating Sunni majority powers such as the Ottoman Empire, the Safavids were successful. To this day, Iran remains a Shia majority country, whereas most Muslim nations in the Middle East, and indeed the rest of the world, are predominantly Sunni. Once again, we can see how Iran's modern identity has been shaped by its past. The Safavid Empire was a major power, controlling not just modern Iran, but also parts of many neighboring countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

Starting point is 00:32:33 By the early 18th century, however, the empire was in decline. In effect, your leadership contributed to a growing crisis. And in 1722, Iran was attacked by two neighboring powers. First, Peter the Great of Russia initiated the Russo-Persian War, capturing many of Iran's Caucasian territories. And then, even more shockingly, the capital city of Isfahan was besieged by an Afghan army and captured after a six-month campaign. During the chaos, the Russians and the Ottomans helped themselves to more Iranian territory.

Starting point is 00:33:27 Essentially, the rule of the Safavid dynasty was now over. But once again, amidst the turmoil, another ruler was rising to power. Nadr Shah, the founder of the Afsharid dynasty. His idols included Genghis Khan and Timur, which gives me. you some idea of his leadership style, Nadashaar became extremely effective as a military leader. Not only did he get rid of the Afghan invaders, but he launched various military campaigns throughout the 1730s and 40s. In doing so, he expanded Iranian territory significantly, creating what was arguably the most powerful empire in the world at that time.

Starting point is 00:34:32 In 1738, Iran invaded India. After defeating the Mughal army, Nadasha returned to Iran with a breathtaking collection of treasures. This included the legendary peacock throne, some of the largest diamonds in the world and 700 elephants. While all of this was good news for Iran's morale and its struggling economy, Nardashir's days were numbered. There was growing resentment, in part because of his paranoia and cruelty. V notoriously, he even had his own son blinded because he suspected him of trees.

Starting point is 00:35:25 In 1747, Nadr Shah was assassinated by conspirators. This led to the disintegration of his empire and a civil war. The following decades were a turbulent period, involving further conflicts with the Russian Empire and more civil wars. The Zand dynasty was followed by the ascension of the Khajars, who, Around the year 1786, chose the small town of Tehran as the new capital of Iran. The Qajar dynasty ruled for about 150 years. During this period, the Russian Empire continued to pose a threat,

Starting point is 00:36:20 and Iran faced numerous crises, including a devastating famine in 1870. Nonetheless, the country began to undergo a face. of much needed modernization, with powers like the Russian Empire as neighbors, and a tense relationship with Great Britain, Iran needed to be able to defend itself. In the early 20th century, the Persian constitutional revolution led to the creation of the first Iranian parliament. Iran became a constitutional monarchy. However, despite these advances, Iran remained in a rather vulnerable position, squeezed between the Russian Empire and Britain.

Starting point is 00:37:23 These nations wielded a huge amount of power and influence over Iran. Although Iran was neutral during the First World War, it nonetheless became a battleground for Russian, British and Ottoman forces. This military activity had a terrible impact on Iranian civilians. Between 1917 and 1919, widespread starvation and disease caused the death of around 2 million people. After the war, during the Paris Peace Conference, Iran saw an opportunity for legal recognition. Here was a chance to become independent under national law, and perhaps to regain territory they saw as rightfully theirs.

Starting point is 00:38:25 The Iranian delegation even came to Versailles with a map, showing their proposal for Iran's borders. But their requests were ignored. In part, these events helped to explain what happened in the aftermath of the war. Iran was weak and politically unstable. Creating fertile ground for change, Hakudatatat set the stage for the end of the Qajas and the beginning of a new dynasty.

Starting point is 00:39:07 In 1923, Razakhan, a former army officer, became the prime minister. A couple of years later, he was elected as the Shah. This marked the founding of the Palavi. dynasty. To this day, Rasa Shah remains a controversial figure in Iran. One hand, he helped to lay foundations for the modernization of the country, in terms of law, infrastructure, and education. For instance, during his rule, the University of Tehran was established, the first in the country. But while Raza Shah undoubtedly oversaw many advances, he was also an autocrat who suppressed dissent.

Starting point is 00:40:08 Many of his reforms were unpopular. During the Second World War, British and Russian forces invaded Iran, as a Shah's army collapsed, and the Shah himself was forced to abdicate. In 1941, he was replaced by his 21-year-old son, Mohamed, Reza Pahlavi, the man who would come to be known as the last Shah. We'll soon see why. Although the Shah was the figurehead of the country, it might be argued that the real power lay in the hands of the Prime Minister, who had been elected democratically.

Starting point is 00:41:02 In 1951, the Prime Minister of Iran, Mohamed Mossadegh, nationalized the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company. arguing that Iran was the rightful owner of the country's oil. This antagonized the British and led to a political and economic crisis. The British were concerned about losing their oil profits, and the Americans also had their eye on Iran. They didn't like the way things were going politically, and they wanted to be able to influence the country. The result was another,

Starting point is 00:41:47 coup d'etat, in 1953, where the Iranian Prime Minister was overthrown. This was a highly significant and controversial event, not just in terms of Iranian history, but also international politics. To a great extent, the coup was orchestrated by American and British intelligence, the CIA and MI6. They were involved in spreading propaganda. bribing Iranian politicians and instigating protests. Essentially, the U.S. and the UK helped to overthrow a democratically elected foreign government.

Starting point is 00:42:42 In the words of one historian, these events left a profound and long-lasting legacy. Some might say that to an extent the current situation in Iran is a consequence of what happened in the 1950s, something that probably wouldn't have happened without foreign interference. From the 1950s to the 1970s, the Shah was the authoritarian ruler of Iran. A seismic shift occurred in 1979 with the Iranian Revolution. This was a complex event with many causes, but we'll take a look at some of the key factors. Although the Shah had some supporters, he was not as popular as he believed himself to be. For a start, many Iranians saw the Shah as a ruler who had been imposed on them by foreign powers.

Starting point is 00:43:55 Additionally, in the 1960s, the Shah had initiated a series of reforms with the aim of modernizing Iran. This came to be known as the White Revolution. While some supported the White Revolution, others were bitterly opposed. Some of the most vocal critics were members of the clergy and landowners. Land reforms were especially controversial. Throughout the 60s and 70s, resentment towards the Shah continued to grow. It's worth pointing out that this opposition came from both conservative religious groups and leftist guerrilla groups.

Starting point is 00:44:49 Discontent was widespread. A turning point came in 1978, when a fire broke out at a cinema in the city of Abidane, killing hundreds. Many people in Iran thought that the secret police were responsible. The Iranian secret police, known as Savak, were widely feared and hated, as they often used violence against citizens. While we don't know for certain who was behind the fire, evidence suggests that the culprits were actually Islamist militants. Nonetheless, the event helped to fuel public resentment of the Shah. It was one of several triggers for the revolution.

Starting point is 00:45:48 Year later, in 1979, following a series of protests and clashes, the Iranian monarchy was overthrown. The Shah was forced into exile and died in Egypt the following year. According to one anecdote, he kept a bag of Iranian soil under his pillow. Meanwhile, Iran was on the threshold of a new era. The country became an Islamic Republic under the leadership of Ruhola Khomey. The impact of this change can't be overstated. It transformed Iran, which shifted from a monarchy to a theocracy, affecting every area of society.

Starting point is 00:46:53 Whether these changes were positive or negative, depends on who you ask. However, these days, many Iranians have mixed feelings about the impact of the revolution. Some think that while the revolution was necessary, the outcome was disappointing. Others see it as a terrible mistake, and others still defend it. The Iranian Revolution sent shockwaves throughout the world, fundamentally altering Iran's relationship. with foreign powers, such as the United States. In recent years, international relations have become increasingly tense for many reasons. But in order to understand modern Iran and its place within the world,

Starting point is 00:47:58 it helps to have some understanding of its history. Everything that has happened over thousands of years has shaped Iran and its sense of identity. its past empires, its cultural and religious pride, and its interactions with other nations. Iran has been an Islamic Republic since 1979. For some, it may feel as though this is unlikely to change any time soon. But in the wider context of Iranian history, a period of less than 50 years seems relatively brief. We've seen how different dynasties and empires have come and gone over the centuries, and how borders and religious beliefs have shifted.

Starting point is 00:49:14 Of course, we can never know exactly what the future holds, for Iran or any country. But if history teaches us anything, it's that change, sooner or later, is inevitable.

Sleepy History - Iran

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