BACKGROUND PAPER
ON
IRAN
1. This paper will examine two cultural domains that have helped shape the country that Iran is today: language and history. Iranian languages come from a long-stemming linguistic chain, carrying the DNA of the contemporary culture along migration paths. The history of Iran is dominated by this steady stream of migration as well as several empire changes beginning as early as 3500 BCE.1 After providing the cultural framework and foundation of Iran, this paper will then explore the ways in which these cultural and historical contexts have led to or influenced relations and interests between the present-day United States (US) and Iran.
2. One of the defining characteristics of any culture is its language. This is not because there are so many vast and differing languages, nor is this a matter of ethnicity or ancestral heritage. The nature of language itself can carry down messages and meanings that ultimately express perceptions and recall events in history from the perspective of that linguistic lens. So it is that through the Iranian languages from yesteryear to modern day, anthropologists and linguists are able to glimpse cultural snapshots that, alongside archeological evidence, inform on cultures past. Today there are over 150 million speakers from the over 16 Iranian languages spoken worldwide.2 Iranian languages are spoken in parts of Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Central Asia, and Oman.3 These languages all have heritage
As we are introduced to the Great Persian Empire, we find that Amy Chua’s thesis talks about how tolerance was critical in allowing the Persians to not only establish and prosper their world dominant empire, but to maintain it for over two centuries. The thesis of the book, Day of Empire by Amy Chua, is about the “study of colossal power and the conditions needed to maintain it”. Not only this, but it discusses “the contest between ethnic “purity” and ethnic pluralism”. Amy Chua argues that The Achaemenid Persian Empire was “one of the first hyper powers in world history, governing a territory larger than all the ancient empires, including even Rome’s.” (Day of Empire pg. 4) Along with this, she argues that the Persian Empire was “one of the most culturally diverse and religiously open empires in history.” (Day of Empire pg. 4) Therefore, the author argues that The Persian Empire is relevant when discussing large powerful world authorities with a large size, long period of ruling, and ethnic tolerance it
Iran was now unprotected, and a new power came into being. The Arabs invaded and the quality of life changed. “People fell into poverty as the greedy court imposed ever-increasing taxes. Tyranny tore apart the social contract between ruler and ruled that Zoroastrian doctrine holds to be the basis of organized life” (21). The Iranian people couldn’t survive with a ruler who had no sympathy or respect for them. Their life was being over run by foreigners.
The complexity of America’s relationship with Iran increased steadily beginning in 1908, when Iran struck oil. The Shah, the king or emperor of Iran, after taking the place of his young predecessor Reza Shah Pahlavi with the help of the CIA, led Iran into a period of extreme wealth and prosperity, the likes of which the Iranian people had never experienced. However, with the growth of wealth in Iran came the growth of Iranian resentment towards the West, specifically the United States. The Iranian’s resented the uneven distribution of wealth that they felt existed and the United State’s influence in “westernizing” their society. In 1963, this growing hatred led to a conflict with the Islamic clergy. The conflict was quickly settled by the Shah, but he was unaware that this dispute was the beginning
Thesis: Iran, because of these events, is in worse condition because of the cultural revolution, poisoned from within, and is the victim of the actions of the western powers.
“ The Islamic Revolution of 1979: The Downfall of American- Iranian Relations” analyzes American- Iranian diplomacy from 1953- 1979. It is an explanation of the causes and developments of the Iranian revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini’s rise to power and
Mottahedeh attempts to focus on the importance of the education and how the travels of Ali and many other Mullahs to the West helped create a new system of education in Iran. In addition, he shows the style of Persian culture that revolutionary Iran was trying to abolish and at the same time, provides a clear understanding to the reader about how Iranians felt about the various governments throughout the 20th century. Furthermore, Mottahedeh
When the Iranian Revolution succeeded in 1979, Iran wanted to gain the admiration and the support of Arab countries, benefiting in particular from the support by the Shah of Iran and his relationship with Israel before the collapse of his regime. On this very first day of the victory of the revolution, Iran was keen to extend its bonds with the Islamic world, and when this was not possible in most cases, because of many complex causes of the revolution, Iran began to look for «organizations» instead of «regime’s or countries», in order to continue its role in Islamic issues. Iran was keen to show that this role was one of the foundations of the revolution and its beliefs, in
Seemingly the death of intellectual life from the western viewpoint, the cultural revolution in Iran opened a new chapter in the country. As they denounced Western influences, they made way for a new wave of Islamic culture. The Cultural Revolution affected more than just the educational aspect of Iranian society, it also heavily affected its citizens. The Iranian Cultural Revolution was centered on the reformation of the education system in Iran, so the impact the cultural revolution had on Iranian students, educational institutions, and professors would outweigh any other.
Allotayah Khomeini (1902-1989) came into power after the Iranian Revolution of 1979 replacing the Shah as the supreme religious leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran and was later named the political and religious leader of Iran for the rest of his life. Khomeini was able to take over due to his strong belief that Iran’s government should be returned to its traditional Islamic ways, returning it to its secular government. In the following essay I will discuss the extent of cultural and religious changes he brought to Iran during and after his reign, proving whether or not he was an effective ruler and how he changed Iran in the long run.
It was a bright and sunny day in the streets of Tehran, where my father would walk along side by side with the love of his life. He was dressed like any gentleman in the blistering summer’s heat would, but the real sight to him was his girlfriend. She was wearing a bright colored dress and her hair was swaying with the cool wind. They felt vigorous and young to be able to show their affection so freely. Despite that, times have changed in Iran and to practice that type of freedom would result in brutal consequences from the government. At first glance, one would say modern day Iran juxtaposes the United States. However, that was not always the case. According to my informant, my father, Iran was once a country very much like the United States
As Michael Axworthy states on the back cover of his book, A History of Iran: Empire of the Mind, Iran is a “land of contradictions”. As this is true these contradictions is what makes Iran, Iran. Iran today is looked as the pinnacle of the Islamic faith in the form of a Government structure. Since 1979, Iran has been known as the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iran will continue being an Islamic Republic for centuries to come. Iran has a rich history of intellectuals and scholars. Iran is known for its vibrant culture that dates back longer than the Western Ideals were even conceived. However Axworthy asks a question about Iran and its impact on the world’s history and the current events that we see in Iran today, Axworthy asks “Is Iran an aggressive power, or a victim?” This statement is a true paradox, can Iran be the next Nazi Germany, the next Soviet Union or the next Great Islamic Caliphate or is Iran just fighting to keep its culture alive from a vast array of attacks from foreign entities and internal struggles.
A.Attention grab : Iran, also known as Persia, has one of the oldest cultures in the world with its history going back to 4,000 BC, it is home to more than 75 million Persians who practice the same culture and speak the same language Persian, or also known as Farsi.
nationalism that was able to overshadow ethnic nationalism across the nascent Islamic Republic. Iranian ethnic groups united in the face of an Arab invasion
Iranians deeply value their social and cultural traditions. The Persian revolution formed the basis through which the country evolved and foundation upon which its empires were established. The Islamic regime practiced by the country formed the basis through which the country’s sophisticated institutions were built. Shah seemed to champion for secularization and westernization (Axworthy,
Cultural awareness is vital to comprehend. Mainly when linking another culture to your own culture. “A culture is a way of life of a group of people--the behaviors, beliefs, values, and symbols that they accept, generally without thinking about them, and that are passed along by communication and imitation from one generation to the next” (Culture Definition, n.d.). The better that you are able to understand a culture and can relate to that culture, the easier it is to adapt to any culture and group of people. Iran is located in the Middle East, between Iraq and Pakistan, formally known as Persia until 1935. This essay will be discussing the history of Iran, its infrastructure, the effects of weather on the agriculture and population, and the factors of areas, structures, capabilities, organizations, people, and events.