History of Iran

The history of Iran can be divided into two periods, that of pre-Islamic and Islamic.

The pre-Islamic era is 2600-642A.D. and the Islamic period is 637A.D until the modern day.

Starting from the circa 2600-710 B.C. the Iranian Plateau was divided into several small kingdoms of which the Elamite Empire was the largest, with the arrival of the Aryan tribes in 1700 B.C. who migrated into the plateau from the northern lands (possibly Central Asia or Siberia) many new changes started to happen of which the most important was the fusion of these smaller kingdoms into a large Median Empire in 710 B.C. The Medians were one of the Aryan tribes that had settled in the western regions of the Iranian Plateau along the Zagros Ranges . The other main Aryan group were the Persians who settled in the southern regions of the plateau along the Persian Gulf .

Throughout history the Medes and the Persians played a very important role in the birth of civilization in the World. Iranians have made vast contributions to the World, of which some can be briefly listed as the following: world's first charter of human rights, world's first largest empire, first administrative system for Government, first communication lines (Postal Service, Delivery), birthplace of the Zoroastrianism and Manichaeanism religions, contributions to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It must be noted that five Iranian emperors are mentioned in the Bible who were listed as just, wealthy, tolerant rulers and also as saviours. In the Islamic period Iranians also contributed greatly in astronomy, mathematics, medicine, sciences, arts, religion, etc.

Cyrus character of human rights

After victory over Babylonia , Cyrus The Great presented himself not as a conqueror, but a liberator and the legitimate successor to the crown. He took the title of "King of Babylon and King of the Land". Cyrus had no thought of forcing conquered people into a single mould, and had the wisdom to leave unchanged the institution of each kingdom he attached to the Persian Crown. In 537 BC he allowed more than 40,000 Jews to leave Babylon and return to Palestine . He also declared the first Charter of Human Rights known to mankind, which is written on a clay cylinder:

Cyrus cylinder 1st Charter of Human Rights

"I am Cyrus, king of the world, great king, mighty king, king of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters, son of Cambyses, great king, king of Anshan, grandson of Cyrus, great king, king of Anshan, descendant of Teispes, great king, king of Anshan, progeny of an unending royal line, whose rule Bel and Nabu cherish, whose kingship they desire for their hearts' pleasures. When I, well-disposed, entered Babylon , I established the seat of government in the royal palace amidst jubilation and rejoicing. Marduk, the great God, caused the big-hearted inhabitants of Babylon to...me. I sought daily to worship him. My numerous troops moved about undisturbed in the midst of Babylon .

I did not allow any to terrorize the land of Sumer and Akkad . I kept in view the needs of Babylon and all its sanctuaries to promote their well-being. The citizens of Babylon ... I lifted their unbecoming yoke. Their dilapidated dwellings I restored. I put an end to their misfortunes.

At my deeds Marduk, the great Lord, rejoiced, and to me, Cyrus, the king who worshipped, and to Cambyses, my son, the offspring of my loins, and to all my troops, he graciously gave his blessing, and in good spirit is before him we/glorified/exceedingly his high divinity.

All the kings who sat in the throne rooms, throughout the four quarters, from the Upper to the Lower Sea , those who dwelt in ... all the kings of the West Country who dwelt in tents, brought me their heavy tribute and kissed my feet in Babylon . From ... to the cities of Ashur and Susa, Agade, Eshnuna, the cities of Zamban, Meurnu, Der, as far as the region of the land of Gutium, the holy cities beyond the Tigris whose sanctuaries had been in ruins over a long period, the Gods whose abode is in the midst of them. I returned to the places and housed them in lasting abodes. I gathered together all their inhabitants and restored to them their dwellings. The Gods of Sumer and Akkad whom Nabonidus had, to the anger of the Lord of the Gods, brought into Babylon, I at the bidding of Marduk, the great Lord made to dwell in peace in their habitations, delightful abodes.

May all the gods whom I have placed within their sanctuaries address a daily prayer in my favour before Bel and Nabu, that my days may long, and may they say to Marduk my Lord, May Cyrus the King who reveres thee, and Cambyses his son ..."

Brief Timeline - History of Iran

2550 B.C. Elamite Empire was established in South Western Iran

1700 B.C. Arrival of Aryan tribes (Medes, Persians and Parthians)

710 – 559 B.C. Median Empire

559-329 B.C. Achaemenid Persian Empire

330 B.C. conquered by Alexander of Macedon

329 – 250 B.C. Greek-Macedonian Seleucid Dynasty

250 – 224 A.D. Arsacid Parthian Empire

224 – 642 A.D. Sassanid Persian Empire

642 A.D. conquered by Muslim forces from Arabia , the Caspian coastline remained intact

642 – 660 A.D. rule under Islamic caliphs

661 – 750 A.D. Arab Ummayid Islamic Empire

750 – 820 A.D. Arab Abbasid Islamic Empire

820 – 1055 A.D. divided among local Persian dynasties of Tahirid, Saffarid, Samanid, Ziyarid and Buyawid; and turkic Ghaznavid and Ghurid.

1055A.D. invasion by the Oghuz Turks from Central Asia

1055-1157 A.D. The Great Seljuq Sultanate of Persia

1158 – 1192 A.D. divided among local governors titled Atabegs

1193 – 1225 A.D. Khawarizmshahdom of Persia

1225 A.D. invasion by Genghis Khan of Mongolia

1225 – 1335 A.D. rule by the Great Khans of Mongolia and Ilkhanid Mongols of Persia

1335 – 1381 A.D. local Persian dynasties

1381 A.D. invasion by Tamerlame(Timur) of Uzbekistan

1381 – 1500 A.D. Timurid Empire and its vassals (Qara and Aq Qoyunlu Turkmens)

1500 – 1722 A.D. Saffavid Empire of Persia

1722 A.D. invasion by Mir Mahmud Khan of Afghanistan

1722 – 1730 A.D. Afghan Ghilzai Dynasty

1730 – 1736 A.D. Saffavid Empire of Persia

1736 – 1750 A.D. Afshar Empire of Persia

1750 – 1794 A.D. divided among Zand, Saffavid and Afshar Dynasties

1794 – 1925 A.D. Qajar Empire of Persia

1910 – 1921 A.D. divided into spheres of influence Russians in the north and British in the south

1925 – 1979 A.D. Pahlavi Empire of Iran

1935 A.D. officially renamed to Iran from Persia

1941 – 1945 A.D invasion by Soviet Union and Great Britain

February 1979 A.D. Islamic Revolution

April 1979 A.D. establishment of Islamic Republic of Iran by Ayatollah Khomeini

September 1980 A.D. invasion by Iraq and outbreak of war

1980 – 1988 A.D. Iran-Iraq War

1979 – present day Islamic Republic of Iran

It is recommended to visit the following websites for more information on Iranian history and culture.