From literature to memoirs and historical books, discover our list of the best reads on iran. Iranian culture has long been a predominant culture of the middle east and central asia, with persian considered the language of intellectuals during much of the 2nd millennium, and the language of. For the history of the region before the 7th century, see ancient iran. Culture of iran history, people, clothing, traditions. Early history to the zand dynasty iran has a long and rich history. Irans culture is deeply intertwined with its long and rich history, especially from the persian empire. For a detailed description of the persian empire, see persia. Choice outstanding academic title 2014scores of books have been written by western experts, mainly american, looking at the root causes of the conflict between iran and the us. Jul 10, 2008 in a reappraisal of iran s modern history, ervand abrahamian traces its traumatic journey across the twentieth century, through the discovery of oil, imperial interventions, the rule of the pahlavis and, in 1979, revolution and the birth of the islamic republic. History of iran the history of iran is bound up in the rise and oftenchaotic fall of successive ruling groups. Michael axworthy, a former british foreign service officer and a lecturer in arabic and islamic studies at the university of exeter. Iran is considered as one of the cradles of civilization, and due to its dominant geopolitical position and culture in the world, iran has heavily influenced cultures and peoples as far away as italy, macedonia, and greece to the west, russia and eastern.
However, well stick with 10 because an article about 10 books just sounds so much more neat and tidy, in contrast to the subject they cover. With almost three thousand years of history, iran is home to one of the worlds richest and most complex cultures. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. This week in the magazine, laura secor, who is a contributor and is working on a book about iran, wrote a comment about mirhossein moussavi and ayatollah ali khamenei. Centuries of wars with rome and byzantine weakens the empire, and iran falls to the arabmuslims. The conflict of tribe and state in iran and afghanistan, 1983. For example, the predominant language spoken in iran is not arabic, but persian or farsi, which is a member of the indo. I second quora users opinion and highly recommend the cambridge history of iran series.
From the 14th century poetry of hafez to the 21st centurys reading lolita in tehran, iranian bbc journalist pooneh ghoddoosi discusses books that give an insight into the culture, society, and politics of iran. Culture of iran preislamic revolutionby leah falor and anna hyman slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. 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. Finally, the rivers of iran, racing swiftly through. How persian literature shaped the culture of iran and india.
Iranian culture has long been a predominant culture of the middle east and central asia, with persian considered the language of intellectuals during much of the 2nd millennium, and the language of religion and the populace before that. In a reappraisal of irans modern history, ervand abrahamian traces its traumatic journey across the twentieth century, through the discovery of oil, imperial interventions, the rule of the pahlavis and, in 1979, revolution and the birth of the islamic republic. Why tv series from decades ago are being broadcast again from virtual pub tournaments to a hit tv drama, quizzes are having a moment is the empire strikes back the source of the franchises. A history from zoroaster to the present day 01 by axworthy, michael isbn. Iranian history was long told through a variety of stories and legend, tribal lore and genealogies, and tales of the prophets. May 15, 2015 i second quora users opinion and highly recommend the cambridge history of iran series. The arab invasion of iran made a break with the past that affected not only iran but all of western asia and resulted in the assimilation of peoples who shaped and vitalized muslim culture. 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. Here, she recommends six books essential for a deeper understanding of irans history, culture, and politics. They cost a lot though in both ebook and hardcopy formats. The history of iran presented in her book is not exactly objective, but no matter.
The last major iranian group, sasanian, rule iran, middle persian is fully developed, and a zoroastrian church is established. 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. The medes unified iran as a nation and empire in 625 bc. A modern history by abbas amanat, paperback barnes. History of iran simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Books to introduce kids and teens to the history and culture of iran saffron ice cream. But in the late nineteenth century, new institutions emerged to produce and circulate a coherent history that fundamentally reshaped these fragmented narratives and dynastic storylines. Iran, being a revolutionary society, experienced two great revolutions within the short span of just seventy years, from the 1900s to the 1970s. She has also been writing regular updates on the situation in iran for news desk.
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 book offers a view of iran through politics, history and literature, showing how the three angles combine. Iran, afghanistan, tajikistan xiii modern fiction and drama xiv biographies of the poets and writers of the classical period xv biographies of the poets and writers of the modern period. Literary terms xvi general index companion volumes to a history of persian literature. Farzin vejdani investigates this transformation to show how cultural institutions. Centuries of wars with rome and byzantine weakens the empire, and iran falls to.
Aug 27, 2011 the history of iran presented in her book is not exactly objective, but no matter. The article iran contains a description of the geography and economy of the modern country and a short account of its history since the arab invasion of the 7th cent. A history of modern iran in a radical reappraisal of irans modern history, ervand abrahamian traces its traumatic journey across the twentieth century, through the discoveryofoil,imperialinterventions,theruleofthepahlavis,and,in 1979, revolution and the birth of the islamic republic. You could technically argue that these are 12 of the best history books out there since were featuring a threepart history of wwii as one entry. With iran again the focus of the worlds attention, a history of iran is an essential guide to understanding this volatile nation. Christians settle in iran and parthians battle romans and invaders from the east. Power and resistance today bloomsbury, 2014 atabaki, touraj ed. This book examines modern iran through an interdisciplinary analysis of its cultural norms, history and institutional environment. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers.
The islamic attack on iranian culture sage journals. Some of the worlds most ancient settlements have been excavated in the caspian region and on the iranian plateau. However, none of them have presented an inside look at this complex relationship from within the iranian culture, society, and most importantly, the iranian policymaking system. Learn about the enthralling history, language and culture in iran. History, culture, politics soas university of london. In the 6th century bc, the first persian empire was founded by cyrus the great, which was overthrown by alexander the great some 200 years later, after which came a long chain of invasions from arabs, turks and mongols, among others. New books archaeology, anthropology architecture art biographies, memoirs business, economy children crafts, rugs culture, society diaspora ethnicities, minorities film, video food foreign relations iranus relations geography, nature history ancient history modern history pahlavi era history qajar era humor, satire. The best books on iran five books expert recommendations. It offers a revealing look at how events, people, and institutions are shaped by currents that sometimes reach back hundreds of years. Ad ferdowsi writes the shahnama book of kings that resulted in the revival of iranian culture and the expansion of the iranian cultural.
Iran is home to one of the worlds oldest continuous major civilizations, with historical and urban settlements dating back to 4000 bc. Sunil sharma interviewed by maryam kamali iranian medieval history sunil sharma is the associate professor of persianate and comparative literature at boston universitys department of modern languages and comparative literature dear prof. A portrait of iran would be incomplete without some reference to the role played by etiquette, in many ways the most distinctive feature of persian life. List of books and articles about iranian history online. A masterfully researched and compelling history of iran from 1501 to 2009 this history of modern iran is not a survey in the conventional sense but an ambitious exploration of the story of a nation. List of books and articles about ancient persia online. 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. This article is concerned with the history of the ancient persian empire, in which presentday iran has its roots.
What are the best books to read about the modern history of iran. Art, literature, architecture, and music have deep roots which are still visible today. This article discusses the history of iran from 640 ce to the present. Iran is a very old society, for much of its history ruled by outsiders and subject to unexpected upheavals. 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. Part biography and part political history, amir taheris the spirit of allah a direct translation of khomeinis given name, ruhollah is at once a detailed examination of the revolution in iran and a threedimensional portrait of the man whose almost gravitational centrality to it. Abrahamian, ervand, a history of iran cambridge up, 2008 adelkhah, fariba, being modern in iran hurst, 1999 adibmoghaddam, arshin, on the arab revolts and the iranian revolution. The culture of iran is a mix of ancient preislamic culture and islamic culture. The conflict between iran and america by kenneth pollack.
Books to introduce kids and teens to the history and culture of iran. In fact, persian artifacts can be seen in many leading museums around the world, such as the british museum and the louvre. History a brief history of iran timeline of iranian history az iranian history and culture timeline of. He explains clearly and carefully both the complex succession of dynasties that ruled ancient iran and the surprising ethnic diversity of the modern country, held together by a common culture. Iran history, language and culture world travel guide. The best books on iran recommended by pooneh ghoddoosi. A captivating guide to the barbarians of iranian origins and how these ancient tribes fought against the roman empire, goths, huns, and persians. Nov 14, 20 1 for a general survey of 20th century iran, i highly recommend, a history of modern iran. The islamic conquest of persia 633656 and the end of the sassanid empire was a turning point in iranian history.
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