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. 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. The defiant spirit of the country is brought to life in this monumental history of the past 500 years. Iran has the largest jewish population in the middle east outside of israel. 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. Iran is home to one of the worlds oldest continuous major civilizations, with historical and urban settlements dating back to 4000 bc. Jul 20, 2011 the history of iran presented in her book is not exactly objective but no matter, these books are funny and moving. Iran is home to the largest jewish population in the middle east, outside of israel.

It is situated at a strategic juncture in the middle east region of south west asia. 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. These works were often written in prose as well as in verse. The best books on iranian history five books expert. The early history of iran may be divided into three phases. Like the epic poetry of greece and scandinavia, the text explores creation myths, tragic love stories, and great wars. As an audio book, its hard to follow when youre fairly unfamiliar with much of the history of iran. Richard spencer, the times london no book could be more pertinent for american readers. Willem floors book on history of bread in iran published. This is an nice overview of the history of iran, from the time of cyrus the great to about 2009.

Iran had been a monarchy ruled by a shah, or emperor, almost without. With almost three thousand years of history, iran is home to one of the worlds richest and most complex cultures. The clergys revenge a modern history of iran books. 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. 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. I second quora users opinion and highly recommend the cambridge history of iran series.

History and literature sociology novel psychology women glossary publications policy. 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. The dynasty came to power in fourteenthcentury khurasan when the ilkhanid government of northeastern iran, after the death of abu. 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. May 15, 2015 i second quora users opinion and highly recommend the cambridge history of iran series. But the nations history and that historys effects on modern iranian culture, politics and perspectives remains poorly understood by outsiders. Even for those who are well acquainted with modern iran will most certainly find the book stimulating and helpful. With iran again the focus of the worlds attention, a history of iran is an essential guide to understanding this volatile nation. The history of iran presented in her book is not exactly objective but no matter, these books are funny and moving. Iran, a mountainous, arid, and ethnically diverse country of southwestern asia. The earliest archaeological findings from persia date to the paleolithic era, 100,000 years ago. Kamin mohammadis top 10 iranian books books the guardian. 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. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required.

By 5000 bce, persia hosted sophisticated agriculture and early cities. Abbas amanat combines chronological and thematic approaches, exploring events with lasting implications for modern iran and the world. 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. This period was followed by the conquest of alexander the great from greece and the. 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. Under ayatollah khomeinis guidance, iran declares itself a theocratic republic guided by islamic principles, and a referendum is held to name it. 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. 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. 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. Amanat searches for patterns to make irans tumultuous history lucid to nonspecialist readers. I like history books, and realized i had never read one specific to persia iran. Subjects covered include travel literature, world history, current events, and traditional subjects such as the history of islamic civilization.

History of iran simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This book is a major contribution to the scholarship on the fortyfiveyear history of the sarbadar dynasty. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. It unquestionably is a distinguished reference for those looking for a beautifully written narrative of. 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.

At the transition between flat land and rugged mountain, at the base of kuhirahmat, or mountain of mercy, lies persepolis. The books greatest achievement is that it helps the reader to straightforwardly navigate historical events since late nineteenth century that have shaped todays iran. For a detailed description of the persian empire, see persia. 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. 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. 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. This one covered the known history, not dwelling too much on any given era, balancing politics, war, and empire building with culture. They cost a lot though in both ebook and hardcopy formats. Willem floors book on history of bread in iran published in. Early history to the zand dynasty iran has a long and rich history. Reading a name is much easier to reference and remember than having it read aloud.

Simultaneously a history of modern iran is a dialectical analysis of the sociopolitical contradictions of iranian society in the 19th and 20th century. In his new book he presents the past five centuries of irans history in its persian, shia context. Irans isolation from the rest of the world is lessening, slowly. 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. It unquestionably is a distinguished reference for those looking for a beautifully written narrative of contemporary history of iran. The name iran comes from aryan and is also mentioned in the ancient book of the zoroastrians, which was called the avesta. 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. Your first book is khomeinism by ervand abrahamian yes, abrahamian is one of the leading historians of modern iran. History of iran simple english wikipedia, the free. Brief overview of the history of iran throughout much of early history, the land known today as iran was known as the persian empire.

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. The persian empire is the name given to a series of dynasties centered in modernday iran that spanned several centuriesfrom the sixth century b. History a thousand years of the persian book exhibitions. 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. Jul 20, 2018 iran s majority centrallyplanned economy depends upon oil and gas exports for between 50 and 70% of its revenue. 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. Some of the worlds most ancient settlements have been excavated in the caspian region and on the iranian plateau. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Finally, the rivers of iran, racing swiftly through. Michael axworthy, a former british foreign service officer and a lecturer in arabic and islamic studies at the university of exeter.

Powerful dynasties have ruled persia, beginning with the achaemenid 559330 bce, which was founded by cyrus the great. A modern history by abbas amanat, paperback barnes. 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. 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. The cambridge history of iran is an eightvolume survey of iranian history and culture, and its contribution to the civilisation of the world. 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 first great dynasty in iran was the achaemenid which ruled from 550 to 330 bc. List of books and articles about iranian history online. Iran history, middle eastern history, books barnes. Around 500 bc, presentday iran was the center of the persian empire. Shahnameh tells the legendary stories of preislamic iran. Modern iranian culture owes itself in part to a renaissance in the 8th century.

I feel like i have a much better understanding of currentday iran, including its different factions, because i read the book. Nevertheless its informative and extensive in the research and arching themes of irans political, military and social history of the last 500 years. 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. 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. The iranian revolution past, present and future chapter 1 the historical background iran is one of the worlds oldest countries.

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. 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. 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. In the 19th and early 20th century, the name aryan was used by europeans to mean all indoeuropeans. 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. Judaism has a long history in iran, dating back to the achaemenid conquest of babylonia. At its peak in the twentieth century, the population numbered around 100,000. Iran became a muslim nation during the islamic conquest of the seventh century.