Education, Secondary education and schools
Persia - what country is it now? Iran: the history of the country
Often in our days, we can hear a story about a country in the south-western part of Asia, called Persia. What country has now replaced it on the political map of the world? Since 1935, Persia has officially become known as Iran.
In ancient times, this state was the center of a huge empire, the territory of which stretched from Egypt to the Indus River.
Geography
It should be said that at one time the state of Persia did not have clear boundaries. What country now is on these lands is difficult to define. Even modern Iran is only approximately located on the territory of ancient Persia. The fact is that in some periods this empire was on most of the world known at that time. But there were even worse years, when the territory of Persia was divided among themselves by local rulers, hostile to each other.
The relief of most of the territory of present-day Persia is a high (1200 m) highlands, which is intersected by a chain of stone ridges and individual peaks rising to 5,500 m. In the northern and western parts of this region are the Elbrus and Zagros mountain ranges. They are arranged in the form of the letter "V", framing the highlands.
West of Persia was Mesopotamia. It is the birthplace of the most ancient civilizations on Earth. At one time, the state of this empire largely influenced the culture of the newly emerging country of Persia.
History
Persia (Iran) is a country that has the greatest past. Its history includes aggressive and defensive wars, insurrections and revolutions, as well as brutal suppression of all political speeches. But at the same time, Ancient Iran is the homeland of the great people of that time, which led to the flourishing of the country's art and culture, and also built amazing buildings in its beauty, whose architecture still impresses us with its splendor. The history of Persia includes a large number of ruling dynasties. Recalculate them is simply impossible. Each of these dynasties enacted its laws and regulations, which no one simply did not dare violate.
Historical periods
A lot of Persia survived on its way to becoming. But the main milestones of its development are two periods. One of them is pre-Islamic, and the second is Muslim. The Islamization of Ancient Iran caused fundamental changes in its political, social and cultural spheres. However, this does not mean the disappearance of former spiritual values. They were not only not lost, but also largely influenced the new culture that originated in the country at the turn of two historical periods. In addition, many pre-Islamic rituals and traditions have been preserved in Iran to this day.
The Board of Achaemenides
As a state, Ancient Iran began its existence with Cyrus II. This ruler became the founder of the dynasty of Achaemenides, who was in power from 550 to 330 years. BC. E. Under Cyrus II, the two largest Indo-Asian tribes, the Persians and the Medes, were united for the first time. This was the period of the greatest power of Persia. Its territory stretched to Central and Asia Minor, the Indus Valley and Egypt. The most important archaeological and historical monument of the Achaemenid epoch are the ruins of the Persian capital Persepolis.
Here is the tomb of Cyrus II, as well as the inscription carved by Darius I on the Behistun rock. At one time Persepolis burned Alexander of Macedon during his campaign to conquer Iran. This conqueror put an end to the great Achaemenid empire. Unfortunately, the written evidence of this era did not survive. They were destroyed by the order of Alexander the Great.
Hellenistic period
From 330 to 224 BC. E. Persia was in a state of decline. Together with the country, her culture also deteriorated. During this period, Ancient Iran was under the rule of the Greek Seleucid dynasty ruling at that time, entering the state of the same name. The culture and language of Persia changed. They were influenced by the Greeks. At the same time, Iranian culture did not perish. She influenced the settlers from Hellas. But it happened only in those areas where there were no self-sufficient and large Greek communities.
Parthian Kingdom
Years passed, the power of the Greeks in Persia came to an end. The history of Ancient Iran entered its new stage. The country began to be part of the Parthian kingdom. Here the rule of the dynasty Arshakids, who considered themselves descended from the Achaemenids. These rulers liberated Persia from Greek rule, and also protected it from the invasion of the Romans and the raids of nomads.
During this period the Iranian folk epic was created, a large number of stories with heroic characters appeared. One of them was Rustem. This Iranian hero in many ways is similar to Hercules.
In the Parthian period, the feudal system was strengthened. This weakened Persia. As a result, it was conquered by the Sassanids. A new stage in the history of Ancient Iran began.
The Sasanian State
Between 224 and 226 years BC. E. From the throne overthrew the last Parthian king Artaban V. Power at the same time captured the Sassanid dynasty. During this period, the borders of Ancient Iran were not only restored, but expanded to the western regions of China, including the Punjab and Transcaucasia. The dynasty led a constant struggle with the Romans, and one of its representatives - Shapur I - managed to even capture their emperor Valerian. Constant wars were waged by the Sassanid dynasty and Byzantium.
During this period, the cities were developed in Persia, and the central power was strengthened. Then came Zoroastrianism, which became the official religion of the country. In the Sasanian era, a four-stage system of existing administrative divisions and the stratification of all strata of society into 4 classes were developed and approved.
During the Sasanian period, Christianity penetrated Persia, which was negatively met by Zoroastrian priests. Then some other oppositional religious trends appeared. Among them - Mazdakizm and Manichaeism.
The most famous representative of the Sassanid dynasty was Shah Khosrov I Anushirvan. The literal translation of his name means "with an immortal soul." His reign lasted from 531 to 579 years. Khosrov I was so famous that the glory of him was preserved for many centuries after the fall of the Sassanid dynasty. This ruler remained in the memory of the descendants as a great reformer. Khosrov I showed great interest in philosophy and science. In some Iranian sources, even its comparison with Plato's "king-philosopher" is present.
The Sassanids significantly weakened the constant wars with Rome. In 641, the country lost a major battle to the Arabs. The Sassanid phase of Iran's history ended with the death of the last representative of this dynasty, Yezdegerd III. Persia entered the Islamic period of its development.
The Board of Local Dynasties
The Arab Caliphate gradually expanded to the east. At the same time, his central authority in Baghdad and Damascus could no longer retain strict control over all the provinces. This led to the emergence of local dynasties in Iran. The first one is the Tahirids. Its representatives ruled in the period from 821 to 873 years. In Khorasan. To replace this dynasty came the Saffarids. Their domination in the territory of Khorasan, southern Iran and Herat lasted throughout the second half of the ninth century. Then the throne was captured by the Samanids. This dynasty proclaimed itself the descendants of the Parthian military leader Bahram Chubin. The Samanid throne was held for more than fifty years, extending its power over significant territories. Country Iran during their reigns ran from the eastern outskirts of the highlands to the Aral Sea and the Zagros Ridge. The center of the state was Bukhara.
Somewhat later in the territory of Persia ruled two more genus. In the second half of the tenth century these were Ziyarids. They controlled the territory of the coast of the Caspian Sea. Ziyarids became famous for their patronage of art and literature. During the same period in central Iran, the Bund dynasty was in power. They were conquered Baghdad and Force, Khuzistan and Kerman, Ray and Hamadan.
Local Iranian dynasties sought power in the same way. They seized the throne, raising an armed insurrection.
Dynasty of Ghaznavids and Seljukids
Starting from the eighth century, the Turkic nomadic tribes began to penetrate the Iranian highlands . Gradually, the way of life of this people became settled. New settlements arose. Alp-Tegin - one of the Turkic tribal chiefs - began to serve the Sassanids. In 962 he became in power and ruled the newly created state, whose capital was the city of Ghazni. Alp-Tegin founded a new dynasty. The power of Gaznevit was kept for a little more than a hundred years. One of its representatives, Mahmoud Ghaznavi, held the territory from Mesopotamia to India under vigilant control. The same ruler in Kharasan settled a tribe of Turk Oguzes. Subsequently, their leader Selcuk raised an uprising and overthrew the Ghaznavid dynasty. The capital of Iran was declared the city of Rey.
The Seljuqid dynasty belonged to the faithful Muslims. She subjugated all the local rulers, but for her rule for many years waged constant wars.
During the years of power of the Seljuks, architecture flourished. During the reign of the dynasty, hundreds of madrassas, mosques, public buildings and palaces were built. But at the same time, the reign of the Seljukids was hampered by constant uprisings in the provinces, as well as by the invasions of other tribes of the Turks, who were advancing towards the western lands. Constant wars weakened the state, and by the end of the first quarter of the twelfth century it had begun to disintegrate.
Dominance of the Mongols
The invasion of Genghis Khan's troops did not fail Iran. The history of the country tells us that in 1219 this commander managed to seize Khwarizm, and then, having moved west, plundered Bukhara, Balkh, Samarkand, Nashapur and Merv.
His grandson, Hulagu-khan, was again plunged into Iran in 1256 and, having seized Baghdad, destroyed the Abbasian caliphate. The conqueror assumed the title of Ilkhan, becoming the ancestor of the Hulaguid dynasty. He and his successors adopted the religion, culture and way of life of the Iranian people. Over the years, the position of the Mongols in Persia began to weaken. They were forced to wage constant wars with feudal rulers and representatives of local dynasties.
Between 1380 and 1395 years. The territory of the Iranian highlands was captured by Amir Timur (Tamerlane). They were conquered and all the land that adjoined the Mediterranean Sea. The descendants of the great commander up to 1506 preserved the Timurid state. Further, it was subordinated to the Uzbek dynasty of Sheibanids.
History of Iran from the 15th to the 18th centuries
For the following centuries Persia continued to wage wars for power. So, in the 15th century the tribes of ak-kyundu and kara-aoyundu fought among themselves. In 1502, Ismail I seized power. This monarch was the first representative of the Safavids, the Azerbaijani dynasty. During the reign of Ismail I and his successors, Iran revived its military power and became an economically prosperous country.
The Safavid state remained strong until the death in 1629 of his last ruler, Abbas I. In the east, Uzbeks were driven from Kharasan, and the Ottomans were defeated in the west. Iran, whose map pointed to its impressive territories, subdued Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Within these boundaries it existed until the nineteenth century.
On the territory of Persia, wars were waged against the Turks and Afghans, who sought to conquer the country. These were the times when the Afshar dynasty was in power. The southern lands of Iran from 1760 to 1779 were under the rule of the dynasty, which was founded by Zendov Kerim Khan. Then she was overthrown by the Turkic tribe of Qajars. Under the leadership of his leader, he conquered the lands of the entire Iranian highland.
The Qajar Dynasty
At the very beginning of the nineteenth century, Iran lost provinces that were on the territory of modern Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. This was the result of the fact that the Qajar dynasty could not create a strong state apparatus, a national army and a single tax collection system. The power of its representatives was too weak and could not withstand the imperial desires of Russia and Britain. Under the control of these great powers in the second half of the nineteenth century, the lands of Afghanistan and Turkestan departed. Iran at the same time involuntarily began to serve as the arena of the Russian-British confrontation.
The last of the Kajars was a constitutional monarch. This dynasty was forced to accept this main law under the pressure of strikes in the country. Against the constitutional regime of Iran were made by two powers - Russia and the United Kingdom. In 1907, they signed an agreement on the division of Persia. Its northern part has retreated to Russia. In the southern lands, Great Britain exerted its influence. The central part of the country was left as a neutral zone.
Iran in the early 20th century
The Qajar dynasty was overthrown by a coup d'état. He was led by General Reza Khan. The new dynasty of Pahlavi came to power. This name, which in translation from Parthian means "noble, brave", was intended to emphasize the Iranian origin of the genus.
During the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi, Persia experienced its national revival. This was facilitated by numerous radical reforms carried out by the government. It was the beginning of industrialization. Large investments were allocated for the development of industry. Highways and railways were built. The development and production of oil was actively carried out. Sharia courts have been replaced by legal proceedings. Thus, in the early 20th century a vast modernization began in Persia.
In 1935, the name of the state changed Persia. What country is its legal successor now? Iran. This is the ancient self-name of Persia, which means "the land of the Aryans" (the highest white race). After 1935 the pre-Islamic past began to revive. The small and large cities of Iran began to be renamed. They restored pre-Islamic monuments.
Overthrow of the royal power
The last shah of the Pahlavi dynasty entered the throne in 1941. His reign lasted for 38 years. In pursuing his foreign policy, the Shah was guided by the US opinion. At the same time, he supported the pro-American regimes that existed in Oman, Somalia and Chad. One of Shah's most vocal oppositionists was the Islamic priest Kma Ruhollah Khomeini. He led revolutionary activity against the existing government.
In 1977, US President Jimmy Carter forced the shah to ease repression against the opposition. As a result, numerous parties of critics of the existing regime began to appear in Iran. The Islamic revolution was being prepared. The activities carried out by the opposition exacerbated the protest moods of the Iranian society, which opposed the domestic policy of the country, oppression of the church and foreign pro-American policy.
The Islamic revolution began after the events of January 1978. It was then that the police shot a demonstration of students who spoke against the slanderous article about Khomeini printed in the state newspaper. The unrest continued for a year. Shah was forced to introduce martial law in the country. However, it was already impossible to keep the situation under control. In January 1979, the Shah left Iran.
After his flight in the country held a referendum. As a result, on April 1, 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran emerged. In December of the same year, the light was seen by the renewed constitution of the country. This document approved the supreme authority of Imam Khomeini, who after his death was to be transferred to his successor. The president of Iran, according to the constitution, stood at the head of political and civil authority. Together with him, the country was governed by the Prime Minister and the Consultative Council, the Majlis. The Iranian President was legally the guarantor of the adopted constitution.
Iran Today
A very colorful country is known from time immemorial Persia. What country today can so precisely correspond to the saying "East is a delicate matter"? This is confirmed by the entire existence and development of the state in question.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, without any doubt, is unique in its identity. And this highlights it among other Asian countries. The capital of the Republic is the city of Tehran. It is a huge metropolis, one of the largest in the world.
Persia - what country is it now? Highly religious. In its printing houses, more copies of the Holy Qur'an are published than in all other Muslim countries.
After the Islamic revolution, the republic set the course for universal literacy. The development of education here is at an accelerated pace.
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