Persian history timeline from 7000

B.C.E. to the last dynasty

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Education:Collage
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Out,Traveling

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Historyoftheoriginofhumancivilizationsandagricultureisofcoursemucholderthanthedocumentationinthe
formofinscriptionsandbasreliefsortombscantellus.Thissectionisonlybasedondocumentedhistory.Themost
commondefinitionofcivilizationisanadvancedstateofdevelopmentinhumansociety,markedbyprogressinthe
artsandsciences,theextensiveuseofwriting,andcomplexpoliticalandsocialinstitutions.Theresearchinfrontof
youisthemostaccurate,uptodateandscientificdocumentaccordingtothelatestarcheologicalandhistorical
discoveriesandevidenceoftheancienthistory.Thissectionscontainsasummarizedhistoricaltimeline:Ajourney
throughtime:7000B.C.E.toPresentday.

B.C.E.=BeforetheCommon/Current/ChristianEra|C.E.=CommonEra(CurrentEra).
Thesehistoricaleventsbelowarearrangedinchronological,ordateorder:(oldesttonewest)
Historyhasalwaysbeenthegreatestteacherofmankind.Goingthroughpastcivilizationsleadsustoamore

advancedandexperiencedwayinordertoachieveourgoals.Foundationsandprinciplesofthoseancient
civilizationsarethebesttechniquestoconcludeabetterwayofliving&basingourfuture.
Persiawasapowerhouseofacademicknowledgeinancienttimes.Theywereleadersinastronomy,
medicine,mathematics,literatureandphilosophy.Throughoutthemillenniumsofinvasionsand
conquests,Persianshavebeentoughenoughtolivethroughitandrepeltheinvaders.Evenduring
MiddleAgesPersiaproducedthebestscholarsintheworldinallfieldsofscience.Oneofthemwas
AvicennaandhisCanonofMedicinewastheleadingtextbookinmedicalscienceintheworldandis
verymuchrespectedevenuntilmoderntimes,heisstillconsideredbymanytobetheFatherof
ModernMedicine.
7000B.C.E.TheAgriculturalRevolutionmadepermanentsettlementspossibleandthecreationofcomplex
civilizationsstarted.Monumentalarchitectureandmoreelaborateformsofartisticrepresentationreflectan
increasinglydifferentiatedsocialhierarchy.Formsofadministrationandrecordingaredevelopedascitiesemerge
acrosstheregion.ThePersianplateaubecamethecradleofoneoftheoldestcivilizationsandKingdomsinhistory.
InIrantoday,thereare1.2millionhistoricalsites,discoveredsofar,withsome70,000historicalmoulds.Our
undocumentedhistorygoeswaybackto9000B.C.E,burieddeepinwhatisnowsouthwesternIran.

6000B.C.E.TheancientShooshCivilizationorinEnglishSusianaCivilizationwereamongthefirst
civilizationstoemergeover8000yearsagointodaysKhoozestan(southwesternIran).Sofarthishasbeenreported
astheoldestcivilizationwhichhaveeverexistedonEarth.Bycivilization,wemeancivilizedcitygovernment,city
stateorKingdomandanadvancedstateofdevelopmentinhumansociety.SusianswereoneofthelocalIranian
races,beforethecomingofAryansintoPersia.TheywereananonSemiticHemiticpeople(oneofthemaindivisions
oftheCaucasicfamily)whohadmigratedtothePersianplateauinprehistorictimes.ThelocationofSusaandits
closenesstoMesopotamiawasthemainreasonwhythesecivilizationsinfluencedeachotherintermsofartand
monumentsdespitetheirracialdifferences.
ArcheologistsweredigginginShooshsince1897byJanMorgantheFrenchArcheologist,alltheway
untilthepresentday.Dr.Scheilwasalsoanothervaluablearcheologistwhodedicatedaloton
uncoveringthesecretsofSusiana.Modernarcheologistsdividethetimeperiodsanddiscoveriesof
Shoosh,intotwoperiods:PeriodOne&PeriodTwo.TheseperiodsarebasedonGeologicalLayers
whichthefossilsandothermaterialhasbeenfoundinthem.Todayweknowthatthesecivilizationsare
mucholderthanpreviouslythoughtduetoarcheologicaldiscoveries.(SettlementsatSusadateto7000
B.C.E.)

5500B.C.E.HistoryofWine:Winemakingbegan2,000yearsearlierthanpreviouslythoughtthanksto
recentarcheologicaldiscoveriesandevidence.Winehasacomplexanddetailedhistoryfromitsdevelopmenttothe
spreadofwineproductionmethodsthroughouttheworld.Theearliestandoldestarchaeologicalfindingofwine
making&productioncomesfromanareainPersiacalledHajjiFiruzTepe(ANeolithicvillagesiteinnorthernIran).
Here,archeologistsdiscoveredthefirstwinepressalongwithanamphora(alargevasewithanarrowneckused
primarilytostorewineandoliveoil)thatwaslayeredwiththeresidueoftanninandtartratecrystals,bothofwhich
arefoundinwine.Carbondatingestimatesthattheseartifactsareover7000yearsold..TheIranians
exported/tradedwineasfarassouthernEurope,Egypt,IndiaandChina.continue

4200B.C.E.ThemagnificenthistoricalcityofSusa,(nearKashan)wasbuiltinsouthwesternPersiaand
markedtheprogressincomplexpoliticalandsocialinstitutions.TheancientcapitalcityofSusaismentionedinthe
OldTestamentastheplacewhereprophetDaniellived.TheIraniangovernorbeforethisperiodwasasubjectruler

underBabylon,thenhebecameanindependentKing(ShahofSusa).Beforethisperiod(5000B.C.E.to4200
B.C.E.),therewereGovernorsrulingSusiana,notKings.SomeGovernorsweresubjectrulers,someautonomous,
andsomeindependent.Afterthisdate,Susabecameanindependentkingdomandamajorpowerintheregion.
Duringthiserathenumberofsettledcommunitiesincreased,particularlyintheeasternZagrosmountains.

3200B.C.E.ThefirstUnitedKingdom:Severaldifferentfragmentedsmallkingdomswereunitedandcreated
theElamiteNation(Afirstdynasty)inthePersianPlateauandbegantoreceiveinfluencefromtheculturesofthe
region.Thisimpressivedynastylastedforovertwomillenniums.Susaplayedavitalroleinthedevelopmentand
expansionoftheElamiteculturalsphere,andthethreatofAssyrianattackspromptedtheconstructionofalarge6
meterthickrammedearthwallaboutthecity.Theincreasingfrequenciesinforeigninvasionsledtoaneedfor
centralizationandorganizeddefenses.Elamisthenameofanancientcivilizationlocatedinwhatisnowsouthwest
Iran.TheElamiteswerenonSemiticAlpinepeoplewhohadmigratedtothePersianplateauinprehistorictimesand
Susabecametheirprimarycapitalofthekingdom.TheElamitelanguageisregardedbythevastmajorityoflinguists
asalanguageisolateandhasnocloserelationtotheneighbouringSemiticlanguagesortoSumerian.

2500B.C.E.ThefirstsmallwaveofArianmigration(IndoAryan)toPersiaandthebeginningofthe
distinctionbetweenIndoEuropeantribes.ThetimeperiodforthesecondMassAryanmigrationwaveisassignedto
roughly20001000B.C.E.TheAryansgavePersiaitshistoricalname:Airyana,ThelandoftheAryansfrom
whichthenameIran/Aryancomes.ArianTribeswhoemigratedtothewestbecametheancestorsofGreeksand
peoplewhochoseeastastheirdestinationcametobeknownasIndoIranians.Aryan(Arian)meansnobleor
honorable.ItiswidelyheldtohavebeenusedasanethnicselfdesignationoftheIranians.WhentheAriansfinally
tookovermostofthePersianplateautheystartedorganizingtheirdomains.Smallcities,headedbylocalmayors,
andeachindependentofeachotherwithalmostnounity.Thismethodsoonproveduseless,especiallyunderthe
constantattackofnewmastersofMesopotamia,Assyrians.Slowly,theIraniantribesreorganizedthemselvesinto
unitedkingdoms.
IndoEuropeanswentwest,IndoIranianswentEastwheretheysplitintoIraniantribes:(Persians,

Medes,Parthians,Scythiansetc.)

2300B.C.E.SusacitystatefallsundertheruleoftheMesopotamiankingsofAkkadand,later,theThird
DynastyofUr.Attheendofthisperiod,theElamitesinvadedsouthernMesopotamia,destroyingthecityofUras
arevengeforthepreviousBabylonianinvasionsandmarkedthebeginningofaneweraofrisingElamitepower
withintheregion.ElamitesinterferedinMesopotamianaffairs,usuallyinalliancewithBabylon,againsttheconstant
pressureofNeoAssyrianexpansion.

SusalaterplayedanimportantpartinBabylonianoppositiontothebrutalAssyriandomination.SusaKingdom
reignendedbystartofthePersianAchaemenidEmpire.

1737B.C.E.ZarathushtraTheFirstMonotheistProphet,hewasoneofthefirstprophetstointroducethe
conceptsof:monotheism,equalism,dualityofgoodandevil,mankindsfreechoicebetweenthetwoalternatives,
messianicredemption,resurrection,finaljudgement,heaven(thewordParadisecomesfromOldPersian),helland
thenotionofanalmighty,kind,lovingandforgivingGod.Hebelievedmanssalvationinlifeandintheafterlife
couldonlybeensuredthroughGoodThoughts,GoodWordsandGoodDeeds.Manyoftheseconceptshada
profoundinfluenceonJudaism,ChristianityandIslam.PersiansadoptedZoroastrianismatatimewhenGreeksand,
later,Romansstillpracticedpolytheisticreligions,atatimewheneveryraceconsidereditselftobethechosenpeople
ofGods/God,Zarathushtradidnotdiscriminatebetweenrace,castandcreed.
ZoroastersbirthdayfallsonMarch26th1767B.C.E.(6thofFarvardininPersianCalendar)Thisdateis
moresignificantandspecialfortheZoroastrians.TheZoroastrianYearCalendarisbasedonhis40th
Birthday,rightnow,theyearis3754ZoroastrianHolyYear.
*ThesedatesarebasedonlinguisticevidenceandarcheologyandnottheusualGreekanachronism
whichoftencorruptshistoricalfact.(ManywronglyconfuseKingVishtaspwhoreignedduring
ZarathustraslifewiththefatherofDariustheGreat,withthesamename).Thatmistakealoneisthe
mainreasonwhymanyancientGreekhistorianswronglybelievedthatZarathustralivedaround(600
B.C.E)258yearsbeforethereignoftheMacedoniankingAlexander,wheninfactZarathustralivedover
14centuriesbeforehim.continue

1600B.C.E.TheChristmascelebrationsactuallyderivefromthePersiancelebrationofYalda:Thelongest
nightoftheyearontheeveoftheWinterSolstice.OntheYaldanight,Persiansusedtostayawakeallnighttillthe
dawnandnormallythefollowingdayswereaholiday(December2225).ItwasalsothedayofEqualitybecauseon
thisdayking/queenandnoblesweretodressjustlikeordinarypeoplesoasnottoberecognizedinthecrowdand
nobodywassupposedtogiveorder.
OnDecember25thPersianscelebratedMithrakana:TheBirthofMithra(Angelicdivinityofcovenantandoath)
andhangedawreatheofgreencypressontheirdoors,gavegiftstotheirlovedonesandfeastedthenighttogether.
ManyChristian,JewishandMuslimcustomshaverootinMithraismandZoroastrianism:thefirstEqual,Universal
andMonotheistReligion.ThebirtydayofMithra(Mehr)wascelebratedinPersia,RomeandotherpartsofEuropeas
Mithraismrapidlyspreadthroughouttheancientworld,CoincidencewithJewishHanukkah(FestivalofLights)is
notjustanaccident.Anoldtraditionthatwouldserveasagreenmovementtodaywasthateveryonepledgedtoplant
acedartreeduringthefestivalofYalda.(Christmastree,holybreadandmoreotherthingsentered,inthisway)
TheoldestrecordoftheYaldanightcelebratedthroughouttheIndoEuropeanworlddatesbackto1600
B.C.E.MerryMithrakanaeventuallybecameMerryChristmaswiththespreadofChristianityinthe
RomanEmpire.Thepriests,sincecouldnotstopthepracticeofcelebratingMithrasbirthdayon
Decemberthe25th.declaredthisdayasthebirthdayofJesus,whichisstillso(Becausethedateof
Jesusbirthisunknown).

1500B.C.E.Norouzornewday,iswonderfulandancientPersiannationalcelebrationthatreflectstherich
culturalheritageofthenation.NorouzisthemostcherishedofallthePersianfestivalsandhasbeencelebratedfor
morethan3500yearsaccordingtothelatestarcheologicalandhistoricaldiscoveries.ThePersianNewYearalways
beginsonthefirstdayofspring(March20theachyear,attheexacttimethesunentersAries)Itsexacttimeis
calculatedaccordingtoancientastronomicalmethodsestablishedbyasolarcalendarinPersia.Norouzceremonies
aresymbolicrepresentationsoftwoancientconcepts:theEndandtheRebirth.Itisacelebrationofspringequinox
andrepresentsancientPersiansimpressiveunderstandingofscienceandastronomy.AfewweeksbeforetheNew
Year,Persianscleanandrearrangetheirhomes.Theymakenewclothes,bakepastriesandgerminateseedsassignof
renewalanddecoratetheirfamilyNorouztable.Theceremonialclothissetupineachhousehold.Troubadours,
referredtoasHajiFiruz,disguisethemselveswithmakeupandwearbrightlycoloredoutfitsofsatin.TheseHaji
Firuz,singinganddancing,paradeasacarnivalthroughthestreetswithtambourines,kettledrums,andtrumpetsto
spreadgoodcheerandthenewsofthecomingnewyear.
SomeoftheactivitiesduringNoroozareSpringcleaning,paintingeggs,familyreunions,Persian
dancing,exchangingpresents,visitingneighborsandfriendsetc.justtonameafew.TheNorouz
holidayandcelebrationsendsbyhavingamassivefamilypicniconthe13thdayofSpring.

728B.C.E.PrinceDeiocesbecamethefirstMedianKing(728B.C.E.675B.C.E.)andstartedtoorganizethe
firstnationwidelargeframeIranianKingdom.TheMedianKingdomwasthefirstofitskindinIran,agreat
hierarchywithhugeorganizationofadministrations.ThecapitalofthisdynastywasEcbatana(Ekbatana)whichis
todaysHamedaninIran.HuvakhShatraThegrandsonofKingDeioceslaterbecamethegreatestMedianKingand
markedtheheightofthedynasty.
693B.C.E.AssyriansDestroyedSusa.Thisglorious,ancientandhistoricalcityinPersiawascapturedand
razedtogroundbythenotoriousarmyofAshurBanipal,theylaterreachedEcbatana(CapitalCity)anddestroyed
muchoftheinfrastructureoftheyoungMediankingdom.TheAssyrianshadbuiltaverystrongarmythatruledover
avastareawithoutanytoleranceforothercivilizations.Theirsourceofwealthwasplunderingtheweakandnotlet
themregainpower.TheyenslavedmanynationsincludingtheJewsandtheentireIranianplateau.Afterthey
destroyedtheElamkingdomleavingbehindanancientruincalledtheBurntCity.Thismarkedtheendof2000years
ofElamitekingdom.

678B.C.E.ThreegroupsofAryannomads:TheMedians(CentralandNorthWesternparts)andtheParsis
(InSouthandSouthWesternparts)andtheParthians(NorthEasternandEasternparts)unitedtheirKingdomsand
establishedtheUnitedMedianKingdom(678B.C.E.559B.C.E.)inordertotowithstandthebrutalAssyrians.
AnalliancebetweentheMediansandPersiansputanendtotheAssyrianterrorforever.Aftertheirdefeat,many
MediansweresettledinAssyrianterritoryintheregioninordertopreventAssyriansfromemergingagain.Iranwas
alocalDynastyandaKingdomfrom728B.C.E.until559B.C.E.AccessionofCyrusofPersia,whoseizedtheMedian
ThroneandenlargedIranintoanmassiveWorldEmpire.ThePersiansintheSouthWesternpartseventually
supplantedandabsorbedtheUnitedMedianKingdomintheAchaemenidPersianEmpire.
TheMedeswereIranianpeople,wholivedinthenorth,western,andnorthwesternportionsofpresent
dayIran,androughlytheareasofpresentdayTehran,Hamedan,Azarbaijan,northofEsfahan,Zanjan,
andKurdistan.ThisregionwasknowninGreekasMedia.

ThehistoricalcityofSusawhichwasdestroyedbytheAssyrianswasrebuiltduringthePersian
AchaemenidDynastyandbecamethesecondwintercapitalforofficialaffairsandalsotheceremonial
capitaloftheEmpire.
584B.C.E.MandanawasaMedianprincess,daughterofthemightyKingAstyagesandlater,theQueenconsort
ofCambysesofAnshanandmotherofCyrustheGreat,(rulerofPersiasAchaemenidDynastyandthewriterofthe
firstdeclarationofhumanrightsintheglobe,named:CyrusCylinder).
QueenMandanaisacentralcharacterinlegendsdescribingthebirthofCyrusthegreat.Accordingto
ancientgreekhistorianHerodotus,afterthebirthofCyrustheGreat,KingAstyageshadastrange
dreamthathisMagi(CourtMagician)interpretedasasignthathisgrandsonwouldeventually
overthrowhim.HethenorderedhisstewardHarpagustokilltheinfant.Harpagus,morallyunableto
killanewbornhidthechild,whowasnoneotherthanCyrushimself(CyrustheGreat)withashepherd
namedMitridates.CyrusgrewupwithoutknowingthathecamefromaRoyalBloodline.Accordingto
thislegend,Cyruswouldeventuallydefyhisgrandfather,KingAstyages,leadingtoagreatwarbetween
themasthedreamhadforecast.TherearereferencestoMandanasdeathas559B.C.E.inthehistory
books.KingDariustheGreatnamedhisdaughterMandanaafterher.

560B.C.E.CyrustheGreatdefeatstheMediankingAstyagesatthebattleofPasargadaeandbecomestheking
ofbothkingdoms.HeestablishedthePersianEmpirein550B.C.E.CyrustheGreathadaconceptofOneWorld
andtheUnificationofAllPeoplearoundtheknownWorld.Byacceptingthepracticesandreligionsofthesubject
peoplehecreatedtheworldsfirsthumaneandreligiouslytolerantempireandevolvedanadministrativesystemthat
wassufficientlyflexibletocaterforthemultitudeofdifferentlanguages,races,religionsandcultureswhile
maintainingthefundamentalunityofgovernmentnecessarytomaintainthehugeempire.

559B.C.E.AmitisShahbanuwasaMedianprincess,daughterofAstiakShahofMad(TheMedianKing).
PrincessAmitisbecamethewifeofCyrustheGreatandtheQueenofMediaandtheQueenofthePersian
AchaemenidEmpireafterthehistoricalbattleofPasargadae(whereCyrusbecamethekingofbothkingdoms).
EmperorCyruseventuallysupplantedandabsorbedtheUnitedMedianKingdominthemassiveAchaemenid
PersianWorldEmpire.Cyrusdeeplyrespectedtheculture,languageandreligionofsubduednationsandconsidered
allnationsequalintermsoftheirrights.

550B.C.E.TheAchaemenidPersianEmpirewasthefirsthumane,equalandreligiouslytolerantempire
andconsistedofamultitudeofdifferentlanguages,races,religionsandcultures.Itwasthelargestempirethe
ancientworldhadknown,stretchedinthreecontinentsandtwentyfivenations.Itmadepossiblethefirstsignificant
andcontinuouscontactbetweenEastandWest.ThePersianEmpirewasalsothefirstsystemofFederal
Governmentsintheworld!Thereweremanystatesthatwererunbysmallerkingswhowereunderthegreatkingor
ShahanShah(KingofKings)andultimatelyacourthouse(Kings&Queenscouldbesuedbytheirowncitizensfor
anywrongdoing).Indetail,EachStatehadabsoluteinternalautonomytodoastheypleasedintheirowninternal
affairs.ItwasaprimitiveformofFederalismincomparisontotodaysFederalsystems,butimaginebackthenwhen
everyoneincludingChina,Egypt,GreeceandlaterRomepracticedslaveryandcolonialism,Persiansputanendto
slaveryanddictatorialoppressionandgrantedinternalautonomytoallstates.Allstateshadcontrolovertheir
affairs,theirEducationalsystem,locallanguagesandeventheirownmilitaryforces!TheonlythingsthatPersepolis
requiredwasabsoluteobediencetocentralgovernmentoninternationalpoliticalandmilitaryaffairs.Persianrespect
forlocaltraditions,laws,languages,andreligionssetthefoundationofarelativelybenevolentempire.
FederalismiswhatmadePersiastrong!Evenintimesofwar,eachnationhadtoprovidetheirown
militaryforceandcombinetheyhadtodefendMotherPersia!TheyhadtodefendtheEmpirebecause
theEmpireguaranteedtheirinternalautonomy,rights,freedom,independence,equalityandhumanity!
Thiswasthesystem,whichCyrustheGreatbuiltandthefirsthumaneFederalEmpireofitskindinthe
world.
ReconstructionofPersepolis:TheroyalceremonialcapitalofthePersianEmpire

PriortotheriseoftheRomanEmpire,itsetaprecedentfortheimportanceoftheruleoflaw,apowerful
centralizedarmyandanefficientandsystematicstateadministration.However,thegreatestlegacyofthePersian
Empirewasthatitdemonstratedforthefirsttimehowdiversepeoplescanculturallyflourishandeconomically
prosperunderonecentralgovernment.
AsanadministratorEmperorCyrusinsightwasgreat,andheshowedhimselfbothintelligentand
reasonable.Hishumanitywasequaledbyhisfreedomfrompride,whichinducedhimtomeetpeopleon

thesamelevel,insteadofaffectingtheremotenessandaloofness,whichcharacterizedthegreat
monarchswhoprecededandfollowedhim.Historyhasfurtherlabeledhimasagenius,diplomat,
manager,andleaderofmen,thefirstgreatpropagandistandablestrategist.Cyruswasindeedworthyof
thetitleGreat.
ReconstructionofPersepolis:MainStairwaystoTerraceandGatesofPersepolis

550B.C.E.PanteaArteshbodwasoneofthealltimegreatestPersiancommandersduringthereignofCyrusthe
Great(559529B.C.E.).ShewasthewifeofGeneralAryasb(AchaemenidArteshbod).Sheplayedanimportantrole
inkeepinglaw&orderinBabyloniaaftertheconquestoftheNeoBabylonianEmpirein547B.C.E.byCyrusthe
Great.CommanderPanteatrulywasanimportantandsensitivemilitarycommanderwhosepresenceontheancient
battlefieldmadeadifferencetotheoutcomeofthebattleandplayedapartinbuildingupthetapestryofancient
militaryAchievement.PanteaandGeneralAryasbwerethecommandersoftheeliteforceofPersiansoldierswho
performedthedualrolesofbothImperialGuardandstandingarmyduringthePersianEmpiresexpansion.They
formedtheelitecoreofthePersianarmyintimesofwarandtheroyalguardintimesofpeaceintheEmpire.In
Persianlore,PanteawasthemostbeautifulwomaninallofAsiaandkeptherfacecoveredduringbattletoprevent
menfromfallinginlovewithher(viewimage).
TheeliteforcewereknownasTheImmortalsbecausetheywerekeptconstantlyatastrengthof
exactly10,000men,everykilledorseriouslywoundedmemberwasimmediatelyreplaced.Toinsure
loyalty,theoriginalmembersofthisimmortalfightingmachinewerePersiansbybloodlineand
trainedfromearlychildhood(age7+).Noteveryonecouldbecomeoneofthe10,000sincethetraining
wasveryrigorousandhardbothphysicallyandpsychologically.Theyalsofollowedastrictadherenceto
thereligionoftheprophetZarathustraandhisteachingsinordertorespectandvaluelife.The
Immortalsweremainlyusedduringthelaststagesofeachbattleasreinforcementbytheorderofthe
KingofKingstoshocktheenemiesstrategically.
ArteshbodPanteaCommanderofthePersianImmortalArmy

ImperialArmyshallofhonourPorts(alsocalledHundredColumnsPalace)inPersepolis

545B.C.E.CassandaneShahbanuwasanAchaemenidPersiannoblewoman,shebecamethewifeofCyrusthe
GreatseveralyearsafterhisfirstbelovedwifeQueenAmitispastaway.CassandanewasthesisterofOtanesand
daughterofPharnaspes.Sheborefourchildren:CambysesII(whosucceededhisfatherandconqueredEgypt),
Smerdis(Bardiya)whoalsoreignedasthekingofPersiaforashorttime,adaughternamedAtusa.PrincessAtusa
laterplayedanimportantroleinAchaemenidroyalfamily,asshemarriedDariustheGreat.AccordingtoHerodotus,
CyruslovedhisQueenCassandanedearlyand,whenshedied,orderedallthesubjectsofhisempiretoobservea
greatmourning.Cyrusneverrecoveredfromthegriefoflosingherandstayedinactiveforthenextdecadeuntilhis
death.Behindeverygreatmanthere'sagreatwomanandviceversa!Thereisareportinthechronicleof
Nabonidusthat,whenthekingswifedied,therewaspublicmourninginPersiaalongwithallthetwentyfive
nationsthatwerepartoftheempirelastingforseveralmonths.QueenCassandanewasburiedinthetowercalled
ZendaaneSolaymaanatPasargadaePersia.

540B.C.E.InternationalCyrusDay:October29isTheWorldCyrusHumanRightsDaycelebrated
worldwide.SupportersofhumanrightscherishthisdaytomarkthefamousCylinderofCyruswhichisknowntobe
thefirstchapterofhumanrightsintheworld,itwasthedayCyrusputanendtoslaveryanddictatorialoppression,
hisgoalwastoexterminatesuchinhumantraditionsaroundtheworld.Bydoingso,thePersianspioneeredthe
freedomofreligionandcultureoftheminoritiesintheworld.OnthisdayCyruswasofficiallycrownedandonthe
dayofcoronation,CyrusreadtheCharterofFreedomoutafterheputonthecrownwithhishandinMardukTemple.
Cyrusobservedapolicyoftoleranceandequalityduringhistimethatwasthekeytocreationofthegreatestformof
unitednationsandempireintheworld.
CyrustheGreatenteredthecityofBabylonin539B.C.E,andliberatedandprotectedthe50,000Jews
fromcaptivitywhowereimprisonedbyBabyloniansandassistedthemtomigratetotheirhomeland
andhelpedthemtoreconstructtheirtempleinJerusalematPersiantaxpayerexpensealongwithmajor
fundingsfromhisownroyaltreasury.Cyrus'sedictfortherebuildingoftheTempleinJerusalem
markedagreatepochinthehistoryoftheJewishpeopleandhewaslaterconsideredasamessiahsent
byYahwehintheHebrewBible(OldTestament)asthepatronanddelivereroftheJews.Fromthese

statementsitappearsthatCyrustheGreat,kingofPersia,wasthemonarchunderwhomthecaptivity
andslaveryended.

CyrustheGreatwhoseFreedomCharter,540B.C.E,stated:NowthatIputthecrownofkingdomof
PersiaIannouncethatIwillrespectthetraditions,customsandreligionsofthenationsofmyempireandneverlet
anyofmygovernorsandsubordinateslookdownonorinsultthem.Iwillimposemymonarchyonnonation.
Eachisfreetoacceptit,andifanyoneofthemrejectsit,Ineverresolveonwartoreign.Iwillneverletanyone
oppressanyothers,andifitoccurs,Iwilltakehisorherrightbackandpenalizetheoppressor.Iwillneverlet
anyonetakepossessionofmovableandlandedpropertiesoftheothersbyforceorwithoutcompensation.UntilI
amalive,Ipreventunpaid,forcedlabor.Today,Iannouncethateveryoneisfreetochooseareligion.Peopleare
freetoliveinallregionsandtakeupajobprovidedthattheyneverviolateothersrights.Noonecanbepenalized
forhisorherrelativesfaults.Ipreventslaveryandmygovernorsandsubordinatesareobligedtoprohibit
exchangingmenandwomenasslaveswithintheirownrulingdomains.Suchatraditionshouldbeexterminated
theworldover...continue
TheDeclarationofHumanRightswrittenbyCyrustheGreathasbeenhailedasthefirstcharterof
humanrights,predatingtheMagnaCartabynearlytwomillenniums(~1700years)andin1971the
UnitedNationswaspublishedtranslationofitinalltheofficialU.N.languages.Itisnowkeptinthe
BritishMuseumanditisnoexaggerationtosaythatitisoneofthemostprecioushistoricalrecordsof
theworld.AlsoareplicaoftheCyrusCharterofHumanRightsiskeptattheUnitedNations
HeadquartersinNewYork.

ReconstructionofPersepolis,theroyalceremonialcapitalofthePersianEmpire

530B.C.E.CyrustheGreatwaskilledinbattlefieldfromawoundinflictedfromapoisonousarrowduringa
campaignagainsttheMassagetesofcentralAsia.Heisconsideredasthemostrespectedworldleaderstodate.He
consideredallnationsequalintermsoftheirrightsandrespectedtheculture,languageandreligionofsubdued
nations.Cyruswasrelativelyliberal.WhilehehimselfruledaccordingtoZoroastrianbeliefs,hemadenoattemptto
imposeZoroastrianismonthepeopleofhissubjectterritories.Hewasaverydowntoearthpersonandalwaysfought
sidebysidewithhissoldiersandneverleftthemaloneinthebattlefield.
HiswishwastobeburiedinPasargadaeinordertoturnintoPersiansoilonceagain.Heapologizesto
peoplefornotbeingabletousethesoilofhistombforsometime.Cyrusthegreat,thefounderofthe
greatestformofunitednationstodaterestsinpeaceinPasargadaesheddinglightonthefutureofthe
worldcivilization.
PasargadaeThePalaceofPeaceandtheTombofCyrustheGreatofPersia

529522B.C.E.ThesonofCyrusCambysesII(Kambujiya)iscrownedkingofPersia.Cambysesshowedthe
samebroadmindedtolerancewhichhaddistinguishedhisfather.Cambyseshadareignfullofspeculationsand

therearemanyrumorsandliessurroundinghislifewrittenbyGreekhistorians(Herodotus),theyportrayhimasa
mentallysickkingthatkilledthesacredApisbullofEgypt,burntthebodyofAmasis(theLastEgyptianPharaoh)
andcommittedsuicidein522B.C.E.
WhenCambysesconqueredEgyptatPelusiumin525B.C.E.,herepairedthegreattempleofNeith
whichhadbeendamagedbyhissoldiers,andhadhimselfinstructedinthemysteriesofIsis.The
legendaryarmyofCambyseswithover50,000elitesoldierswasswallowedupinacataclysmic
sandstormduringtheirreturntoPersia.ThelegendofTheLostPersianArmyhasbeenamisteryfor
millennniums.WhenCambyseswasconqueringEgyptanddisappearedwithoutatrace,someone
callinghimselfSmerdisclaimingtobehisbrotherrebelledandproclaimedking.Smerdiswasthen
overthrownbyDariustheGreat.
AchaemenidOfficerguardingattheentranceofPersepolisPalace

522486B.C.E.ThereignofDariustheGreatmarkedthezenithofthePersianEmpire.Upholdingthe
traditionestablishedbyCyrus,Dariusvaluedtherightsofallpeopleunderhisrule.Hestructuredtheempireunder
thesatrapysystem(similartonationalandlocalgovernments).Hebuiltmanyroads,ports,bankinghouses,
elaborateundergroundirrigationsystemsandacanaltolinktheNiletotheRedSea(anearlyprecursoroftheSuez
Canal).DariusestablishedtheFirstTaxSystem,CustomsDuties,OfficialRecordsandTheLegalCode,intheworld

level.ReflectingthewealthandthemulticulturaldimensionofthePersianEmpire,Dariusinitiatedthebuildingof
thePersepolispalace.Foritsconstruction,artisansandmaterialsweregatheredfromdifferentcornersoftheempire.
Dariusalsorevolutionizedmankindseconomicactivitiesbyintroducingoneoftheearliest(certainly
thefirstonsuchamassivescale)formsofcommoncoinageinhistory,thedarik.Thisinitiative,along
withthestandardizationofweightsandmeasuresandthecodificationofcommerciallaws,stimulated
worldtradeandelevatedthePersianEmpireseconomytonewlevelsofprosperity.Additionallya2500
kmmassiveroadprojectconnecting20satrapiestogeatherstrengthenedandenrichedtheeconomyfor
allnationsoftheempire.

AnotherprojectundertakenbyDariuswastheroyalroad,theworldslongest,extending1,500miles(seemap).
Duetoanextensivenetworkofrelays,postmencouldtraveltheroadinsixtoninedays,whereasnormaltraveltime
wasthreemonths.ThemottoofthePersianpostalservicebecamememorable:stoppedbyneithersnow,rain,heator
gloomofnight.TheUSpostalservicealsoadoptedthismottoandthefamousPonyExpressmaildeliveryresembled
theoriginalPersiandesign.

ConstructionofPersepolismonuments,masterpieceofAchaemenidart

522B.C.E.AtusaShahbanuwastheQueenofthePersianEmpire,wifeofthemightyPersianAchaemenidKing
DariustheGreat(522486B.C.E.),daughterofCyrustheGreatandQueenCassandane,ahalfsisterofCambysesII
andthemotherofXerxestheGreat(KheshayarShah).AncientGreekhistoriansoftheeraremarksthatthe
formidableAtusahadallthepower.Atusa,hadagreatauthorityintheAchaemenidroyalhouseandhermarriage
withDariusIissuggestedtobebecauseofherpowerandinfluenceandalsothefactthatshewasadirectdescendent
ofCyrustheGreat.WhenhermotherCassandanediedallthenationsofthePersianempireobservedagreat
mourningthatlastedformonths.Atusawasthedirectorofpalaceaffairs.Shehadasayingindecidingwhowouldbe
sendonmilitarymissions.ShemadesurethatXerxesbecamethesuccessorofEmperorDariustheGreatandnot
hiseldestsonArtobazanes.TheinventionofoldPersianscriptisattributedtoher.AccordingtothelegendsAtusa
alsohadaverystrongwomensintuitionandsixthsensewhichtheKingstronglyadmiredandfollowed.Atusaiswell
mentionedinthePersepolisFortificationTablets,anadministrativearchivefromPersepolis.Shewasverywealthy
withherownadministrationandmassivepersonalarmy.

EmperorDariustheGreat(DariusI)withhismightyQueen,AtusaShahbanu

ReconstructionofPersepolis:TheEastPortaloftheApadanaPalaceofDariustheGreat

ThelargestandmostcomplexbuildinginPersepoliswastheAudienceHall

490B.C.E.AtthenightoftheComet,beforehismosttrustedandeliteforceTheMightyImmortals,Dariusthe
Greatpaidhomagetohisbelovedforefather,CyrustheGreat...athisrestingplaceinPasargadae.Heheldupthe
departedkingsswordasasymboloffreedomandretribution,screamingforvengeancetopunishAthensforallthe
GreekterroristattacksonPersianholdingsandcivilianpopulation.Dariustoldhissoldiersthathemayneverrest
untilthedaythathishonorisrestored,assuringhisancestorsthatheshallnotforgetthewordscarvedonCyrusthe
Greatstombastheyreverberateinhisearstilleternity.
UnderPersianlaw,theAchaemenidkingswererequiredtowritetheirlastwillandchooseasuccessor
beforesettingoutonsuchseriousexpeditions.Uponhisgreatdecisiontoleave(487486B.C.E.),
DariuspreparedhistombatNaqsheRostamandappointedXerxes,hiseldestsonbyAtossa,ashis
successor.Dariussfailinghealththenpreventedhimfromleadingthecampaigns,andhediedin
October486B.C.E.ClickheretoreadtheTestamentofDariustheGreattohissonandsuccessor
EmperorXerxestheGreat(KheshayarShah).

Thefollowinginscriptionappearsonhistomb:BythefavorofthegreatGodIbelieveinjustice
andabhorinequity.Itisnotmydesirethattheweakmanshouldhavewrongdonetohimbythe
mighty....Dariusgoalwastobeagreatlawgiverandorganizer.
488B.C.E.IrdabamawasahighlySuccessfulHistoricalBusinessWoman.Shewasamajorformidable
landownerandcontrolledahugeworkforce.SheranherownwineandgrainbusinessatthetimeofXerxesthe
Great.ThefortificationtabletsatPersepoliscontaininformationaboutherwealth,workshopsandhundredsof
workersofbothsexes.Shehadherownsealwhichmeantgreatprestigeandpower.Irdabamaprovedthatpossession
ofenormousproperty,wealthandgoodsocialstandingwasnotlimitedtoRoyalwomenandthateverythingwas
possiblewithhardworkanddetermination.HernonRoyalrankswithconsiderableestate,influenceandautonomy.
Sheisalsowellmentionedininternationalhistorybooks.Irdabamawasjustoneofthemanysuccessfuland
powerfulbusinesswomenintheancientPersianWorld.Mostofthemhadthepowertousetheirownsealsand
letterheadsindicatingnotonlytheirautonomyandindependence,buttheexistenceofanequalsocialsystemwhich
acceptedtheauthorityandindependenceofwomen.(ThissectionismainlydedicatedtoPersianQueensand
Warriors,butwejustwantedtomentiononeancienthistoricalbusinesswoman).

WorthtomentionisthatoverahalfmillenniumafterIrdabama,inEurope,Romanwomenwerenot
allowedtoowntheirveryownbusinessandland.Theywerenotallowedeventomakesuggestions.
Also,womenbelongingtowealthyfamiliesdidntwork.Workwasreservedthusforslavesandforthe
lowerclassesaccordingtoRomanandGreekhistorians.IntheancientGreece,womenwereconsidered
tobeinferiorspecies.AndthesituationbecameworseeachcenturyasAbrahamicreligions(Judaism,
Christianity,andIslam)becamewidespread.

486B.C.E.EmperorXerxes(Xayr)wassonofDariustheGreatandAtossa(daughterofCyrusthe
Great).AfterhisaccessioninOctober485B.C.E,hesuppressedtherevoltsinEgyptandBabylonthathadbrokenout
theyearbeforeandappointedhisbrotherAchaemenesasgovernororsatrapoverEgypt.Hisearlywifeandqueen
(priortoEsther)AmestrisShahbanuwasthebeautifuldaughterofOtanes(APersiannoblemanmentionedinthe
HistoriesofHerodotusasadefenderoftheideaofdemocracy.).ShewasalsoanAchaemenidmilitaryCommander
andhermotherwasaArteshbodGeneraloftheImperialArmy.Amestriswasknowntohavebeenpoorlyregardedby
ancientGreekhistorians.ShehadthereputationtobemorebloodthirstythananyPersiankinghadeverbeenagainst
thosewhobrokethelawinordertosetaprecedentfortheimportanceoftheruleoflawintheempire.Queen
Amestriswasagreatandverystrictlawgiver.WorthtomentionisthatafterherdeathKingDariusIIofPersia
namedhisdaughterAmestrisafterherintheyear413B.C.E.
EmperorXerxestheGreat(KheshayarShah)withhisearlywifeAmestrisShahbanu

GatewaytoallNationsandtheentranceintotheancientcityofPersepolis

490479B.C.E.GrecoPersianWars:IntheirwarswithPersia,theGreekcitystateswereneverathreatto
thePersianheartland.TheGreekshadbeencarryingoutterroristattacksonPersianholdingsforyears.Theyhad
attackedPersiancities,setfiretoPersiantemples,disruptedkeytraderoutes,andpiratedmerchantshipscrossing
theBosphorus.TheyincitedrebellionsinsidePersianprovinces,butperhapsmostabhorrenttothePersianswasthe
easebywhichtheGreeksbroketheirtreatiesandbetrayedPersiastrust.RatherthanresorttoviolencePersiatried
tokeeptheGreeksincheckbyfinanciallysupportingGreekpoliticianswhowereproPersian,Butwhatfinally
triggeredPersiaswrathwasanactrarelymentionedintheWest,thoughwelldocumented,evenbyHerodotus
(FatherofHistory).In498B.C.E,AthenscarriedoutaterroristattackonSardis,amajorPersiancity.The
Athenians,setfiretotheoutlyingpartsofSardistrappingmostofitspopulationinaringoffire,literallykilling
hundredthousandsofinnocentcivilians.
ItisimportanttonotethatPersiadidnotwanttoconquerGreece,theempirewasalreadyover
stretchedspanningthreecontinentsandovertwentyfivenations.ManyIonianGreekswerealready
partsofPersiaasprotectoratesandPersiansrespectedGreekphilosophersandhadmanyofthemin
theiremploy.AlsotheGreekcitystateswereconstantlybusyfightingeachotherallthetimeandthe
PersianKingssawthatregionasveryunstableandleftthemalone.PersiamainlyonlyattackedGreece
asresponsetoterroristattacksonPersianholdings(SimilartowhatUSAdidafter9/11).Afterthe
PersianvictoryattheBattleofThermopylae,AthenswasabandonedandKingXerxesdecidedtoburn
someoftheGovernmentHeadquartersandPalacestothegroundasrevengeandwarningforallthe
previousGreekterroristattacksonPersianholdingsandcivilianpopulation.Xerxeslaterrebuiltsome
ofthedammagedcivilianareasofthecityandsentamessagetotheAtheniancitizensandtoldthem
thattheycouldreturntotheirhomes,whichtheydid.SoonafterXerxesleftGreeceforgood.Thatshows
howhumanethePersianempirewasandhowmuchtheyrespectedcivilians,despitethefactthatthe
AthenianswipedouttheentirePersiancityofSardisandallitscivilianpopulation.

...HistoryisunfourtunatleyalwayswrittenbythevictorsandtheusualGreekanachronism
oftencorruptshistoricalfactsaboutPersia.

WhatPersiadidnotachievethroughwar,itobtainedthroughdiplomacy.
ConspiracyagainsthistoryTheforgottenChapter:TheBattleofThermopylaewasofcoursewrittenby
theclassicalGreekauthor,Herodotus.Hisbook,TheHistoriesbecamepartofWesternfolkloreonlyrecently.It
wasn'tuntilabout1850thatAmericaembracedHerodotusastheleadingauthorityonPersianhistory.Before1850,
however,theWesthadaveryfavorableandtrueimpressionofthehumaneFederalPersianEmpire.That'sbecause
theWest'smainsourceforPersianhistorywastheBibleandtheCyropaediainwhichbothglorifiedthemonarchyof
CyrusTheGreatandthehumanenatureofthePersianEmpire.Inthewakeoftwobloodyrevolutionsfoughtby
AmericaandFrancetoliberatethemselvesfromtheirownmonarchies,amajorcampaignbegan,aroundthemid
19thcentury,topromotedemocracythroughouttherestofEurope,andHerodotuswastheperfectpropagandatool
andwasquicklyusheredinastheFatherofHistory.Around1850,hisBattleofThermopylaecametosymbolize
theWest'sstrugglefordemocracyagainstthepowerfulforcesofPersia'smonarchy.Thestoryiseasytobuyinto:300
braveSpartanbarbarianssavedWesterndemocracyfrom3millionevilPersians!Butasidefromthefanciful
numbers,thiswhimsicaltalehasfargraverconsequencesthanamerebiasaccountofhistory.TheBattleof
Thermopylaehasbeenthesinglemostpowerfulwedge,whichhasdividedEastandWestforover2millennia.Ina
timewhenEastandWestshouldbereconcilingtheirdifferences,alongcomesthemovie300todrivethatwedge
evendeeper.TheSpartanswereextremelycruelmenwhoannuallykilledforsport!Anddeclaredwaronthe
defenselessHelots(Greekslaves)thatlivedaroundthem.Theentirecivilizedancientworldviewedthemas
bloodthirstybarbariansandnothingelse.HerodotusisacceptedblindlybyvirtuallyallWesterndemographics.Yet
weknowthatslaverywasanintegralcornerstoneofGreeksociety.InmonarchicPersia,however,womenenjoyeda
levelofgenderequalityunmatchedeventothisday,andslaverywasnotpracticed.Thefactis,Persia'smonarchywas
morefreethanAthens'democracy,allbecauseofPersia'sBillofHumanRights.
485B.C.E.GrandAdmiralArtemisia:becametherulerofHalicarnassius(AGreekCityStateandacolonyof
PersianEmpire).SheruledundertheoverlordshipofthePersianEmperorXerxesI(KheshayarShah).Shewasthe
legendaryGrandAdmiralandleaderofthePersianNavy,ShewasXerxesgreatlove.Agreatpowerful,independent
andintelligentwomanwhowonmanybattlesduringtheAchaemnidDynastyEra.WhenthePersianKingXerxes
wenttowaragainstGreecein480B.C.E,ArtemisialedherpowerfulshipsandhelpedXerxesdefeattheGreeksin
thebeginningphasesofnavalbattleofSalamis.AncientGreekhistorianHerodotus(FatherofHistory)writes,
apparentlyquiteembarassed:Itseemstomeamarvelthatsheawomanshouldhavetakenpartinthe
campaignagainstGreece.TheAtheniansresentedwomeninarms,saysHerodotus.TheGreeksofferedareward
of10,000drachmasforcapturingArtemisiashead,butnoonesucceededinwinningtheprize.Understandthatback
thenPersiawasthesolesuperpoweroftheglobeandGreececonsistedoftensofseparatedandscatteredcitystates,
eachplayedtheirowntunesandtheywerebusyfightingeachotherallthetime.Someofthesecitystateswerepro
Persia,somewereantiPersia,somewereneutralandsomewereevenpartsofPersiaasprotectorates!Admiral
ArtemisiabecamealivinglegendandarolemodelforallthewomenintheEmpireandtheknowncivilizedWorld.
GrandAdmiralArtemisiaandEmperorXerxestheGreat

EmperorXerxestheGreatcommandingthePersianNavyattheBattleofSalamis

478B.C.E.Esther(bornHadassah)wasthewifeofKingXerxestheGreatandPersiasfirstJewishqueenand
heroineoftheBiblicalBookofEstherwhichisnamedafterherandrecountshowaPersiankinghelpedprotectthe

Israelitenationfromannihilation.Inmanyways,EsthersstoryreadslikeaCinderellatale.Manymodernscholars
areconcernedoverEsthershistoricalaccuracysinceitishardtodistinguishauthentichistoryfromfictioninbiblical
texts.AccordingtotheBiblicalBookofEstherKingXerxesofPersiaheldaonehundredandeightydayfeastinSusa
todisplaythevastwealthofhisempiretotheworldandthesplendourandgloryofhismajesty.Whenthekings
heartwasmerrywithwine,thekingorderedhissevenchamberlainstosummonQueenVashtitocomebeforehim
andhisguestswearingherroyalcrown,inordertodisplayherbeauty.SherefusedtocomesincetheSusafeasthad
lastedfornearlysixmonthsandshedidnotwanttoembarrassherselfinfrontofallthedrunkenroyalguestsallover
again,thussheleftthepalaceatnight.Furiousatherrefusal,theKingaskedhiswisemenandthesevenprincesof
Persiaforadvice,theyadvisedtheKingtosearchforanewqueen.TheKingfollowedthisadviceandbanishedthe
rebelliousQueenVashtiandthenbegansearchingforanewqueenbymeansofalargescalenationwidebeauty&
talentcontest.
Beautifulyoungwomenweregatheredtothepalacefromeveryprovince.Estherwasadvancedforthis
rolebyMordecai,heradoptivefatherandguardian.For12monthseachwomanunderwentbeauty
treatmentsandEducationalImportanceofRoyalMannersandEtiquettesintheHarem.Theywerethen
givenanythingtheywantedorwishedfortotakewiththemfromtheHaremtotheKingspalace.Most
womenchoseluxuriouscolourfuldresses,woreheavymakeupandcarriedasmuchgoldanddiamond
jewelleryastheycouldcarryinordertocatchtheKingsEyesandattention.WhenitwastimeforEsther
togotothekingspalace,shechosethesimplestwhitedressshecouldfind,woreminimummakeupand
jewellery.XerxeslikedEsthermorethanhedidanyoftheotheryoungandbeautifulwomen.Noneof
thempleasedhimasmuchasshedid,andrightawayhefellinlovewithhernaturalbeauty,simplicity,
sincerityandintellectandcrownedhertobehiswifeandqueen.InhonorofEstherhegaveabigdinner
forhisleadersandofficials.Thenhedeclaredaholidayeverywhereinhisvastkingdomalongwithall
thetwentyfivecountriesthatwrepartofhisempireandgaveexpensivegiftstoeveryone.BothEsther
andheradoptivefatherMordecaibecamefavouritesinthePersiancourt.
ShahbanuEstherWelcomedbyEmperorXerxestheGreat.

ReconstructionofPersepolis:PrivateResidenceoftheKingofKings

423B.C.E.PariSatis(Parysatis)wasthehalfsisterofXerxesII,QueenofthePersianAchaemenidEmpireand
thewifeofKingDariustheSecond.ShewasalsoaGeneral(Arteshbod)andtookfullcommandoftheImperialArmy
whenherhusbanddiedinbattle.WhilstKingArtaxerxesIIwantedtoeliminatehisbrotherforbetrayinghim,
Parysatisinterferedsuccesfullyandrestoredorderandpeacewithherownarmy.(Persianqueenshadlargeprivate
estatesandpersonalarmies).Whatshecouldnotachievethroughwar,sheobtainedthroughdiplomacy.Historians
knowverylittleaboutDariusIIsreignbutitdoesseemthathewasquitedependentonhiswifeParysatisaccording
totheGreekHistorians.InthebackgroundyoucanseetheengravingofDariustheGreatonthewall.

ReconstructionofApadanaPalaceTheaudiencehallinPersepolis

381B.C.E.SissyCambiswastheEmpressofPersiaandtheMotherofDariustheThird,shewasaremarkable
Achaemenidwomanwhofought,resistedanddidnotsurrendertoAlexandertheMacedonianTyrant.Shewas
capturedbyAlexanderafterthebattleofIssusin333B.C.E,alongwithherbeautifuldaughterPrincessEstatira.
AlexanderwasverymuchfoundofherandhadacrushonheraccordingtotheGreekHistorians!

ReconstructionofPersepolis:TheGrandEntry:DualentrancetothePalace

336B.C.E.PrincessEstatira(Stateira)wasthedaughterofDariustheThirdandSissyCambis.Estatirahadthe
rankof:AchaemenidSepahbod(LieutenantGeneral).ShewascapturedbyAlexanderafterthebattleofIssusin333
B.C.E,alongwithhermotherSissyCambis.Aftertheircapture,thePersianwomenjoinedAlexandersbaggagetrain
foraroundtwoyears.AfterAlexandersreturnfromIndiahemarriedStateira.TheGreeksourcesmentionthat
followingAlexandersdeath,hisfavouratewifeRoxanefromthekingdomofBactria(modernAfghanistan)lured
Stateiraandhersistertoher,andhadthetwoprincesseskilledandthrownintoawell,Roxanewaspregnantandwas
determinedthathersonshouldbetheundisputedheirofAlexander.

TheAmazonsOneoftheareasthathavereceivedtheleastamountofattentionbyinternationalscholarshipisthe
roleofwomenwarriorsofancientPersia.TheroleofancientPersianfemalewarriorscanbetracedbackseveral
millenniums.Thewomenwarriors,knownasAmazonsbytheancientGreeks,weretypicalofsuchfighterswho
prevailedinIransnorth(modernGilan,Mazandaran,Gorgan)andnorthwest(modernAzarbaijaninIran)asearly
asthe5thcenturyB.C.E.orearlier.TherehavebeennumerousfindsinthegravesitesofancientNorthIranic
warriorsknownastheScythians(SakainPersian)andtheirSarmatian(orArdAlan)successors.Theancientburial
moundshaveoftenyieldedtheremainsofwomenwarriorswhowereburiedalongsidetheirswords,shieldsand
otherwarequipments.TheseburialmoundshavebeendiscoveredinvariousformsfallthewayintotheCaucasus
andIran(tothenorthandnorthwest).
TheAchaemenidUnitofPersianFemaleWarriors.TheCommanderisinfront

AreconstructionofthenorthIranianSakaorScythiansinbattle.

TheCentralAsiansteppehasbeenthehomeofiranicnomadtribesformillenniums.Theearliestmentionof
theiranicScythiansisinAssyrianrecordsdatingtothereignofSargonII(priorto713B.C.E.).TheScythianswere
diversegroupsofmilitaristicIranicpastoralistsandtheirlanguagebelongstotheIraniangroup(EasternIranian
languagefamily).ThecurrentprovinceofSistanintodaysIranishistoricallyknownasSakestanwhichmeans
ThelandofSaks(BirthplaceoftheScythians).
Nomadicandsedentary(Imperial)IranicPeoplesin6thcenturyB.C.E.

334B.C.E.InJanuary334B.C.E,ThekingofMacedonia:Alexander,InvadedPersiaafterhisvictoryoverthe
PersianarmyandreachedPersepolis,theceremonialcapitaloftheAchaemenidPersianEmpire.Alexanderwasan
admirerofPersianKingsandespeciallyCyrustheGreat.HeconqueredPersiabutthePersiancultureconquered
him.HemarriedwiththePersianKings:DariusIIIdaughter:PrincessRoxanaandorderedallhisgeneralsand
10,000ofhissoldierstofollowsuitinamassPersianwedding.AlexandertriedtoemulatethePersiancourtcustoms
andattemptedtocreateanewculture,amixtureofbothPersianandHellenistic.
AlexanderandhisArmyalsoplunderedPersia,heorderedtheexecutionofmanyPersians,allowedhis
troopstoindulgethemselvesinplunderandrapeand,inadrunkenrage,settorchanddestroyed
Persepolis,themagnificentpalacecomplexofthekingsinrevengeforallthePersianGreekwarsmany
centuriesbeforeandalsobecausehewasnotyetthesolerulerofthePersianEmpire,anditwastoo
dangeroustoleavetheenormoustreasuresbehind,wherehisenemiescouldrecapturethem.When
AlexanderconqueredthePersians,heburnedmanyofthegrandbuildingsandlibrariesinPersepolis
anddestroyedorstolemanyofitsroyaltreasures.TheancientpaintingbelowisshowingAlexanders
troopsburningandlootingthepalacesinPersepolis.

AlexanderandtheGreekSeleucidsBurning&PlunderingPersepolisinPersia

334B.C.E.AlexanderpaidtributetoCyrustheGreatathistomb.ThisshowshowmuchEmperorCyruswas

respected,evenintheeyesofhisfierceenemies.WhenAlexanderreturnedseveralyearslaterandsawtheRuinsof
Persepolis,heregrettedhisactdeeply.

334B.C.E.YoutabAryobarzanwastheCommanderofAchaemenidArmy,sisterofthelegendaryPersianHero,
GeneralAryobarzan,shestoodsidebysidetoherbrotherandfoughttheGreeksandMacedonianstodeathduring
theinvasionofAlexander.

326B.C.E.PrincessRoxanawasdaughterofKingDariusIII,ShahanshahofThePersianEmpire!Shemarried
theKingofMacedonia:Alexanderwhenheprofessedhisloveforherinthefortressaround327B.C.E.Roxana
bravelyaccompaniedhimonhiscampaigninIndiain326B.C.E.SheborehimaposthumoussoncalledAlexander
IVAegus,afterAlexanderssuddendeathatBabylon.Roxanaandhersonbecamevictimsofthepoliticalintriguesof
thecollapseoftheAlexandrianEmpire.RoxanaandhersonwereprotectedbyAlexandersmother,Olympias,in
Macedon,butherassassinationin316B.C.E.allowedCassandertoseekkingship.SinceAlexanderIVAeguswasthe
legitimateheirtotheAlexandrianempire,CassanderorderedhimandRoxanaassassinatedaround309B.C.E.This
isafactualbasedportraitandthehistoricallyaccurateRoxanna.

323B.C.E.Alexanderpastaway.Althoughamasterfulgeneral,helackedadministrativeskills.Shortlyafter
hisdeath,hisempirewasdividedamonghiscontestinggenerals.AnimportantlegacyofhisconquestofPersiawas
theintroductionofthePersianimperialpracticesintotheWest.Manyofthesepracticesparticularlythoserelatingto
stateadministrationandtheruleoflawwerelateradoptedbytheRomanEmpire.

323141B.C.E.TheSeleucidDynastywasestablishedbyoneofAlexandersgenerals.AfterAlexanders
conquest,Persiafellunderaforeignoccupyingforce.ThesubsequentSeleucidEmpirewasobviouslynotPersian,but
Greek.TheydidnotarrivewiththeintentofevolvingPersianculture,butrathertodominateit,useit,and
overwhelmitwithanotherculture:Greek.Someoftheresultswerepositive,insomuchasGreekcultureisasrichas
oursandhasmuchtooffer.Nevertheless,sinceitsetouttooverwhelmandsubjugatePersiancultureinsteadof
simplyenrichingitsfoundations,itcanbeviewedonlyasaforeignoccupation.Fortunately,itdidnotsucceed.The
PersiansgraduallydefeatedtheGreekSeleucidsandconsolidatedtheircontroloverallofPersiaandrestoredPersian
culture.
ParthiansdefeatedtheGreekSeleucidsandconsolidatedtheircontroloverallofPersia

247B.C.E.224C.E.TheParthians(Ashkanian),atribalkingdomfromnortheasternPersiaofthecoastal
areasbroketheMacedoniandynasty,graduallydefeatedtheGreekSeleucidsandconsolidatedtheircontroloverall
ofPersiaandtheyremainedtruetothespiritandcultureofPersia,anddidtheirbesttomakepositivecontributions.
TheParthianswereanIranianethnicgroupandtheywerealsoZoroastriansliketheAchaemenidPersians.Thename
ofthefounderofthedynasty,Arsaces,becamethetitleofallParthiankingsinmuchthesamewaythatthenameof
CaesarwaslatertobecomethetitleofallRomanemperors.TheyfoughtnumeroustimeswiththeRomans.Their
victoryovertheRomansin53B.C.E.elevatedtheParthiansintoasuperpoweroftheirera.AlthoughtheParthians
ruledforalmostfivecenturies,verylittleoftheircivilizationhassurvived,exceptforsomesmallartobjects.
TheGrecoPersianwarsandAlexandersvictoriesprovedthatlightarmedtroopscouldnotstopheavy,
welltrained,andbrilliantlyledinfantryofthetypeofhoplitesorphalanx.Thesecouldonlybe
encounteredwithevenmoreheavilyarmedandhighlyprofessionalcavalrycausingdisorderinthe
massedranksandthenattackingthemonvulnerablepointswithbowshotscapableofpiercingarmour
andlanceseffectiveagainstshields.ThislessonwenthomewiththeParthianswhoinoustingthe
SeleucidsfromPersiaformedtheirownprofessionalarmiesandtakingintoconsiderationofwhatwas
neededagainsttheirenemies.
ParthianEliteCataphractsknownasthe"AshkanianSavaran"

171B.C.E.TheParthiansoriginatedfromtheParnitribeofthecoastalareaseastoftheCaspianSea.Inorder
tolegitimizetheirrule,theParthiansclaimeddescentfromtheAchaemenidDynasty.Inmanyfieldsofculture,the
ParthiansrepresentedacontinuationoftheAchaeaminds.Theadministrativesystemwasarrangedafterthe
HellenisticSeleucids,involvingcitiesbuiltaccordingtoHellenisticlayoutaswellastheformationofvassal
kingdoms.Inextent,theParthianempirewassmallerthanthatoftheAchaemenidsandfarlesscentralized.It
lacked,forinstance,astandingunitedcentralizedarmy.Therewereofcoursethegarrisonsoftownsandfortsaswell

asarmedretinuesoftribalchiefs,feudallords,andoftheKingofKingshimself,butthesewerelimitedanddisunited
duetotheirmuchmoretribalpoliticalculture.TheParthianperiodofPersianhistorywasoneofwealth,andgreat
buildingprojects.TheregionprofitedfromtradebetweenAsiaandtheMediterranean.Despiteinternalstability,the
northeasternborderswereoftenundernomadattack,andawiderareasufferedfromrepeatedattacksbythe
Scythians.
TheParthianEmpirewasthemostenduringoftheempiresoftheancientPersia,whichruledfor
over400years.TheParthiansorganizedaverystrongandunifiedgovernmentandtookthearmyand
invadedRomanterritoryinWestAsia.Neithersidewonaclearvictory,andthissetthepatternforthe
nextfourhundredyears:alotoffightingbutnorealchangeintheborders.*TheParthianDarkAge
referstothemostconfusedperiodofParthianhistory,fromthelateyearsintheregionofMithradates
II(12388B.C.E.)totheestablishmentofthesoleruleofOrodesII(c.5738B.C.E.).

84B.C.E.53B.C.E.In53B.C.EwhentheRomansadvancedintoParthianterritoryandwereeverreadyfor
fullscaleinvasionstheKingofParthiaOrodesIIsenthiscavalryunitsundertheLegendaryGeneralSurenato
combatthemwithmaximumforce.ThetwoarmiessubsequentlymetattheBattleofCarrhaewherethesuperior
equipmentandclevertacticsoftheParthianstoluretheRomansoutintothemiddleofthedesertandenabledthem
todefeatthenumericallysuperiorRomans.ThisvictorymadetheParthiansintoasuperpoweroftheireraand
althoughitdidnotcauseanydecisiveshiftinthebalanceofpoweritproducedamightyechoamongstthepeoplesof
theEastwhichinturncausedseveralrevoltsagainsttheRomansafterthisperiodinhistory.GeneralSurena,also
knownasRustahamSurenPahlavwasamightyParthiangeneralandamemberoftheHouseofSuren.Heiswell
knowninhistoryfordefeatingtheRomansintheBattleofCarrhae,withanelitearmyofonly10.000Parthians
against40.000Romansoldiers.Itisbelievedthat20,000Romantroopsoutofaforceofabout36,000diedatthe
handsoftheParthians.TheRomanswereespeciallyinaweoftheexpertmobileParthianarchers(hencetheterm:
theParthianShot)whoinflictedenormouscasualtiesuponsuccessiveRomanarmies.GeneralSurenadistinguished
himselfinthisbattlefordynasticsuccession.
*AfterthisvictorytheKingofParthiaOrodesIIfearedthathisGeneralSurenamighttakeoverthe
throneandconstituteathreat,hencehehadhimexecutedbyhiringsecretmercenaries.Thatdecision
aloneturnedouttobeahugehistoricalmistakesinceSurenaandhisclevertacticsmadeabigdifference
totheoutcomeofeachParthianbattleandplayedapartinbuildingupthetapestryoftheirmilitary
Achievement.
ParthianCommanderTheLegendaryGeneralSurena

TheParthianperiodholdsanimportantplaceinmilitaryhistory.SeveralParthianKingofKings,includingthe
firstandthelastfellinaction,andtheirthreecenturylongconflictswithRomehadprofoundeffectsonRoman
militaryorganization.FortheynotonlysucceededinrepulsingrepeatedRomanattemptsattheconquestofPersia,
buttheyinflictedseveredefeatsevenintheirlastdaysupontheRomaninvadersandtofacethelongrangefighting
tacticsoftheParthianarmouredcavalryandmountedarchers,theRomansstartedtosupplementtheirarmiesof
heavyanddrilledinfantrywithauxiliaryforcesofridersandbowmen,therebyincreasinglymodifyingtraditional
Romanarmsandtactics.
ParthianvictoryovertheRomansatthehistoricalBattleofCarrhae

ThefinalstagesofthetheBattleofCarrhaeagainsttheRomans

198C.E.RomaninvasionfinallydestroyingmuchoftheinfrastructureoftheParthiankingdomafter83years
ofnonstopwar.TheRomansinvadedParthianterritoryinsearchofdesperatelyneededgoldtofundRoman
militarycampaignsandcolonialismwithforcearoundtheknownancientworld.TheRomansbecamemuchmore
numericallysuperioragainsttheParthiansastheirempireexpanded.Theycouldkeepthewargoingforaslongas
neededbyhireingunlimitednumberofmercenariesfromtheircolonialsubjectterritoriestoconstantlyattackthe
Parthianbordersfromalldirectionsinordertofinallyexhaustthemspiritually.Thisinturncausedmajorinternal
revoltswithintheParthianempireandthepowerandinfluenceofthishandfulofParthiannoblefamilieswassuch
thattheyfrequentlyopposedthemonarch,andwouldeventuallybeacontributoryfactorinthedownfallofthe
dynasty.TheParthiansfinallysubmittedtoanotherPersiandynastywhichhadcloselinkswiththemandretained

thepoweroftheirnobility.Theendofthislooselyorganizedempirecamein224C.E.,whenthelastkingwas
defeatedbyoneoftheirvassals,thePersiansoftheSassaniddynasty.
ThistransitionwentwellandtheremainingParthianarmyjustsawthisasachangeofrulerandjoined
theSassanidarmyafterthetakeover.Theyhadpreviouslybeenfightingalongsideeachotheragainstthe
Romaninvadersforcenturiesandtheywerebothtiredovertheinternalinstabilitycausedbywarsfrom
allfrontsandfocusedtheirrageagainsttheRomansinsteadofeachother.TheSassanidmilitarytactics
differedfromtheParthiansandtheywerefarmorecentralizedandunited.Theyalsochangedthetones
ofwaragainsttheRomansfromDefensivetoOffensiveinordertoendthethreatonceandforalland
liveinpeace.

213C.E.SurawasoneoftheGreatestHeroinesofPersianHistory,AstrategicalandMilitaryGeniusduringthe
Parthiandynasty.ShewasthedaughterofArdavantheFifth,thelastKingoftheParthianEmpire(Ashkanid
Empire).Sheismentionedinthehistorybooksasherfathersrighthand.Surahadtherankof:AshkanidsGeneral,
Sepahbod(LieutenantGeneral).AlthoughshewasnotastacticalinthebattlefieldasthelegendaryGeneralSurena
(whowasherrolemodel),shewasagreatrespectedLieutenantGeneralonherown.Hermaintacticswastonot
chargeintotheenemylinebeforeweakeningandexhaustingthemfirst.Shewasunfortunatetoliveduringthe
declineoftheParthianempireduetocenturiesofRomanattacks,majorinternalrevoltsandinstability.Shehada
grudgeagainstKingAradeshirbecauseon225C.E.Ardeshir(SonofBabak)wenttoagreatwaragainstherfather
(ArdavanV)andkilledhiminthewar.Allsheexperiencedduringhershortlifespanwaswar,deathandmisery.Her
soldiersweretheonlyfriendsthatsheeverhad.Mayhergreatspiritrestinpeace.

221C.E.TheSassanids(DescendantsofSassan)coexistedwiththeRomanEmpire,andthereweremany
greatbattlesbetweenthem.ManyofthevictoriesofPersiansiscarvedinstone.TheywereproudoftheirPersian
heritage,andtheywantedtoreestablishthebordersoftheoldPersianempire.Thismeantreconqueringalltheland
totheedgeoftheMediterraneanSeafromtheRomansandalsoreconqueringEgyptfromtheRomans.Sasanian
courtlymannersweretobeadoptedbytheRomanEmpire,aswellastheentireCentralAsiaandChina.Liketheir
Persianancestors,theseSassanidPersianswereZoroastrians.TheSassanids,secondonlytotheAchaemenidsin
theirservicetoPersiawerealsoamajordefiningfeatureofPersiancultureandidentity.Theyconsideredthemselves
thedirectdescendantsoftheAchaemenids,andobviouslysoughttopreservePersiancultureandidentitywhile
servingtheirnation.TheytookagreatroleinadvancingthefoundationsofPersiancivilizationinmanydifferent
aspects.
HugeReliefofKingArdeshirIinNecropolisattheRuinsofPersepolis

224C.E.TheSassanidsweretheLastZoroastrianPersianEmpireandtheStrongest.TheEmpirecouldnot
restcauseofneverendingwarswiththeRomanswhodesperatelyneededgoldtofundRomanmilitarycampaigns
andcolonialismwithforcearoundtheknownancientworld.ArdeshirBabakanI(226241C.E.)foundedthe
SassaniddynastyandrevivedPersiancultureandZoroastrianismandmadeaconsciousefforttoreturntothe
PersianAchaemenidnorms.Themostimportantfeaturewastheallianceofreligionandgovernment.Hecreateda
nationalempirebasedonimperialismandachievedunitythroughconformity.Theysponsoredtradebothwiththeir
archenemy,theRomans/Byzantines,andtheChinese.
*RomanemperorsalwayssaidthatinordertoRuletheWorldandacquiringnewlandsandcontrol
overtheSilkRoadyouhavetoconquerPersiafirst(knowntotheancientworldasThewealthiest
empireunderthesun).TheRomansalsowronglybelievedthattwosuperpowerscouldnevercoexist
peacefullyandthereforetheirmaingoalwastoconqueranddestroyPersiabuttheyneversucceeded
despiteofcenturiesofwarsandinsteadlostmanywarsthatweakenedtheirownempireandintheend
leftbothempiresveryvulnerableagainstinternalrevoltsandoutsidethreat.TheRomanstriedtore
writehistorybycallinggreatcivilizedandhistoricalnationsthattheyinvadedandcolonised(Greece,
Egyptetc.)alongwiththeentireNonRomanworldforBarbarianswheninfactitwastheotherway
around.PersiansandGreeksviewedtheRomansasthetruebloodthirstyBarbariansoftheirera.
TheSilkRoad(6,500km):TheloactionofPersiaandtherichnessofitsvastlandwasoneofthe
manyreasonsforalltheunnecessaryRomanPersianwars.

TheSassanidArmyInthecharacteroftheirwarfare,thePersiansoftheSassanidperioddifferedgreatlyfrom
theirforebearsundertheAchaemenidkings.Theprincipalchangeswhichtimehadbroughtaboutwereanalmost
entiredisuseofthewarchariot,theadvanceoftheelephantcorpsintoaveryprominentandimportantposition,and
theincreaseduseandpreeminenceofheavycavalryontheParthianmodel,includingbothheavycataphractsand
horsearchers.Fivemainarmsoftheservicewererecognized,eachstandingonadifferentlevel:theGolden
ArmoredWarElephants,theSilverArmoredWarHorse,TheArchers,andtheBronzeArmoredelitefootarchers
whoshoweredtheenemywithstormsofarrows.Theheavygoldenarmoredwarelephantcorpsalwaysheldthefirst
positioninline.Thesegiantbeastsactedaswalkingtowersonbattlefieldsandcausedpanicanddisorderinenemy
ranks,creatingopeningsinthelinesthatcavalrycouldtakeadvantageof.Andfinallytheroyaleliteforcecalled
Zhayedan(TheImmortals)numbered10,000men,liketheAchaemenidpredecessors,withthedifferencethatthey
wereheavycavalry.Theirtaskwasmainlytosecureanybreakthroughsandtoenterbattlesatcrucialstages.
ASilverArmoredSassanidCityGuard(Police)CavalryatCtesiphon(SassanidCapital)

RanksoftheSassanidArmy:
Commanderinchief.(EranSpahbod)
FieldGeneral(Spahbod)
Commanderofeachofthefourprovincialdivisionsdevised.(PadgospanorPadouspan)
MargraveorCommanderoftheborderguards.(MarzbanorKanarang)
HeadoftheRoyalGuard.(PoshtikbanSalar)
Seniorrankresponsibleforarmysupplies.(Erananbaraghbad)
Seniorvetwholookedafterthecavalryelitesmounts.(Storbezashk)
Castellan,CommanderofaCastleandFort.(Argbadh)
Chiefofaninfantrydivision.(PayyganSalar)
Headofacavalrydivision.(SavaranSardar)
Commanderofagonddivision.(GondSalar)

ChancelessRomanArmyagainsttheElitePersianArmy:Theancientillustrationbelow(angus
mcbride)isshowingthefatalwoundingoftheromanemperorJulianduringaambushofSassanidPersianElite
WarriorsduringtheBattleofSamarra.HereyoucanclearlyseetheGoldenArmoredWarHorseandElephantsin
ActioncausingpanicanddisorderinRomanarmyranks.
SassanidPersianEliteWarriorsvs.theRomanArmy(BattleofSamarra)

ThePersianSassanidHighCommandoftenchanneledinvadingforcesintokillzonesanddestoryedthemby
deployingHeavilyArmoredSavaranunits(Elitecavalry).Therightfigureisafemalewarriorwhoisalocalgoverness
(PaygospananBanu).

241C.E.TheReignofthemightyKingShapurIstartedandthatsameyearalsomarksthedeathofKing
ArdeshirI.ShapurwasthesonofArdeshirI(thefounderoftheSassaniddynasty)andwhomShapursucceeded,he
wasalsothesonoftheArsacidprincessLadyMyrd.Ardashirhadtowardstheendofhisreignrenewedthewar
againsttheRomanEmpireandhissonShapurconqueredtheRomanEmpire.Shapurlateronpersonallyconsidered
oneofthegreatachievementsofhisreigntobethedefeatofthreeRomanemperors:Valerianus,GordianusIIIand
Philip.ThenameShapur,meaningSonofaKing.
TheReignofthemightyKingShapurIrenewedthewaragainsttheRomanEmpire

243C.E.AzadokhtShahbanuwastheQueenofthePersianSassanidEmpireandthewisewifeofShapourthe
Great.Azadokhtwasnotamilitarywomanbutshewasveryskilledwithhersword.Persiawereconstantlyinwar
withtheRomanEmpireformanycenturiesandtheRomanarmyhadneverseenwomensoldiersinwarfightingso
bravelyandbrutallynexttomalesoldiersandvaliantlydefendingtheirhomelanduntilthelastdropofbloodwas
shed...DuringtheSassaniddynastymanyofthePersiansoldierscapturedbyRomanswerewomenwhowere
fightingalongwiththemen.

260C.E.TheGreatKingShahpurinvadedRomanEmpireterritoryandtookEmperorValerianandthe
entireRomanarmyprisonerasalessontoneverattackPersiaagain!HewasvictoriousoverthreeRomanemperors
duringhisreign:Valerianus,GordianusIIIandPhilip.ThisinturnforcedtheRomanstoquicklynegotiatingpeace
withtheSassanidPersiansandtheystartedtopayheavytaxeseachtimetheyapproachednearSassanidterritoryin
ordertoavoidunnecessaryconflicts.KingShahpuralsoestablishedJondiShahpuruniversity,amajorcenterof
higherlearning.TheancientPaintingbelowisshowingtheSurrenderofRomsEmperorValerianandRoman
SenatortoShapourKingofPersia(onhorsetop).EmperorValeriankneelsandbegsformercyfromKingShahpurof
PersiawhiletheFemalePersiancavalryofficer(left)isguardingalongwithnoblemanoftheSurenclan(withtall
beakedhat).Romewasabrutalempirewithhereconomybasedonslavery,POWsandbuiltonbloodandtheir
maingoalwastoconquerPersiabuttheyneversucceededdespitemanyendless,brutalandunnecessarywarsthat

weakenedbothsidesandcostmanylives.
KingShahpurI,invadedRomanEmpireterritoryandtookEmperorValerianprisoner

274C.E.ProphetManiwasthefounderofareligionnowcalledManichaeism.Hepreachedauniversal
philosophywhichincludedelementsofZoroastrianism,Buddhism,ChristianityandHinduism.Manipractisedunder
theprotectionofthePersianemperor,Shapur,thePersianKinghimselfseemstohavefavouredhisideas.The
Shapurgan,ManisonlytreatiseintheMiddlePersianlanguage,isdedicatedtoShapur.Ashisteachingquickly
gainedground,hecameinoppositiontotheZoroastrianpriestsandafterthedeathofEmperorShapurManilosthis
protectionandwasforcedtoleavePersia,hewanderedtheeast,preachingagnosticversionofMithraism.He
consideredhimselfanapostleofchrist.WhenhereturnedtoPersia,hewasimprisonedandcrucifiedbytheordersof
emperorBahramandtheManichaeancreedwassuppressed.ThedeathofMani(276C.E.)isretoldasanincident
similartothecrucifixionofJesus.
Maniwasbornin216C.E.intheprovinceBabylonwhichwasunderPersianrule,hisfamilywas
Persian,buthisnameisAramaicPersian.Attheageof12and24,Manihadvisionswhereanangeltold
himthathewouldbetheprophetofalastdivinerevelation.Atheageof26Manistartedonalong
journey,wherehestoodforwardasMessengerofTruth,andhetravelledthroughthePersianEmpire
andreachedasfarasIndia.

488C.E.PrincessParinwasaPersianSassanidpolitician,daughterofQobad,CounseloroftheSassanid
Courthouse,extremelyintelligentandconfidentfemalepolitician.

531C.E.ZandShahbanuwastheQueenofPersiaandthemightyWifeofKingKhosrowAnushirvan:ruled531
579C.E.(ThemostillustriousoftheSassanidRulers)andthenieceofGeneralBahramChubin.Thelastholdoutof
SassanidPersiawasintheeast,anditistothislittlestudiedpartoftheworldthatscholarsneednexttoapproach,
foritseemscertainthatthesmallstatesofCentralAsia,too,werepartoftheancientPersianworld,andtheirrolein
bringingPersianinfluencestoChinaandtoRussiashouldnotbeforgotten.

488528C.E.MazdakwasthefounderofthephilosophycalledMazdakism.HewasthesonofBamdadwho
wasaZoroastrianpriestandstartedpreachinghisdoctrines.Mazdakbelievedinequalrightsamonghumanbeings
andadvocatedabolitionofprivateproperty,thedivisionofwealth,aswellasnonviolenceandvegetarianism.His
ideasbroughtaboutamajorclassstrugglebetweenthepeasantsandthenobility.ThefollowersofMazdakraidedthe
PalacesandHaremsoftherichwho,hebelieved,hadoppressedthePersianpopulationandcausedmuchpoverty.
Mazdakembarkedonaprogramofsocialreformandequalrights,whichinvolvedpacifism,anticlericalism(anti
religious)andaidprogramsforhelpingthepoor.Mazdakhadgovernmentwarehousesopenedtohelpthepoor.
Mazdakemphasizedgoodconduct,whichinvolvedamoralandasceticlife,nokillingandnoteatingfleshandbeing
kindandfriendlyandlivinginpeacewithotherpeople.Theleadersofthefeudalistsocietyandthepoliticalranks
stagedseveralconspiraciesthatledtothetotaleliminationofMazdakismin528C.E.
Mazdakismisbelievedtobethefirstformofsocialism(communalismandpopulism)1360yearsbefore
Marxpublishedhisfamousmanifest.Mazdakisconsideredtobetheworldsfirstsocialist.

531579C.E.PersiarecoveredhergloryduringthereignofKhosrowI(Anushiravan),whodefeatedthe
RomanEmpireandmarkedtheheightoftheSassaniddynasty.Hepromotedscholarshipandsponsoredthe
translationofIndianandGreekscientificandmedicaltextsintoMiddlePersianorPahlavi,Persiasnativelanguage.
BythetimeofKhosrowI,JondiShahpurslibraryhadamassedoneofthelargestcollectionsofbooksintheworld.
HealsogaverefugeandfinancialassistancetophilosophersfleeingoppressionintheByzantineEmpire.KhosrowI
wasalsoapopulistking,possiblyareflectionofMazdaksideologyandthecivilconflictsthatsubsequentlyensued.
Hemadehimselfavailabletoallhissubjectsanyonecouldrattlehischainofjusticeandhaveanaudiencewiththe
king.Hisfamousprimeminister,Bozorgmehr,reportedlyinventedthegameofbackgammon.

590C.E.ShirinShahbanuwastheQueenofthePersianSassanidEmpireandthewifeofKingKhosrowParviz
590628C.E.whosemilitaryexploitsextendedtheempiretoitsfurthestextentandconqueredmuchByzantine
empireterritory.ShirinwasachristianprincesswhoeventuallyconsentstomarryKingKhosrowafterseveral
romanticandheroicepisodes,includinghisrescueofherfromalion.Theirhistoricallovestoryhasbeenfurther
romanticizedbyPersianscholars.Duringhisreign,KingKhosrowParvizbuiltseveralmagnificentpalacesinthe
KermanshahProvince(westofIran)andnamedthemafterhisqueen,Shirinhencethecitygotitsnamefromthere
andisnowcalledQasreShirin,literarymeaningPalaceofShirin.

608622C.E.TheendlesswarsbetweenByzantiumandPersia(539622C.E.)significantlyweakenedboth
empiresandcostmanylives.Neithersidewonaclearvictory,alotoffightingbutnorealchangeintheborders.In
theenditleftbothempiresveryvulnerableagainstoutsidethreat.

629C.E.EmpressPurandokhtwasthetwentysixthSassanidmonarchofPersia,reigningfrom629to631.She
wastheoldersisterofAzarmidokht,olderdaughterofKhosrowParviz.WhenPurandokhtascendedtothethrone
afterthemurderofthegeneralShahrbaraz,whokilledhernephewArdashirIII,sheattemptedtobringstabilityto
theempire.ThisstabilitywasbroughtaboutbyapeacetreatywiththeByzantineEmpire,therevitalizationofthe
empirethroughtheimplementationofjustice,reconstructionoftheinfrastructure,loweringoftaxes,andminting
coins.Shewaslargelyunsuccessfulinherattemptstorestorethepowerofthecentralauthoritywhichwasweakened
considerablybycivilwars,andresigned.

630C.E.TwoconsecutivefemalemonarchsruledovertheSassanidEmpire,Purandokhtandhersister
Azarmidokht.PurandokhtsignedapeacetreatywiththeByzantines.

633C.E.TurandokhtwasthebeautifulPrincessofPersiaduringtheSassaniddynastyeraandthedaughterof
KingKhosrowParviz,sisterofAzarmidokhtandPurandokht.ThelegendandfairytaleofPrincessTurandokht
(Turandot)isveryfamousinEuropeanditwastakenfromthePersiancollectionofstoriescalled:TheBookofOne
ThousandandOneNights(Hezaroyekshab),shebecameaniconofnobilityandstature.TheEuropeanschanged
thenationalitiesofthehistoricalcharactersbutotherthanthateverythingelseisintactandtruetotheoriginal.
TuranistheancientPersiannameforCentralAsiawhichusedtobepartofthePersianEmpire.Theoriginal
TuraniansaretheTuiryaIranianpeopleoftheAvestaage(1737B.C.E.).

634C.E.IntheyearsfollowingKingKhosrowsdeath,therewereinternalrevoltsandwarswiththeRoman
Byzantineempire.ThisweakenedPersia.AtthesametimetheArabforces(brutalnomadictribesmen)weretryingto
attackandinvadePersiafromSouth.ThePersianKingYazdegerdIIIwasafraidoftheRomanEmpire(Byzantine)so
hewasnotpayinganyattentiontotheriseofIslamandtheinvadingbarbaricsavageArabs.Thefirstencounter
betweenSassanidsandMuslimArabswasintheBattleoftheBridgein634whichresultedinaSassanidvictory,
howevertheArabthreatdidnotstopthereastheunitedMuslimarmyrepeatedlyattackedthesouthernbordersof
persia.
TheFalloftheEmpireRostamFarrokhzadwastheGovernorofthePersianArmyduringtheSassanid
DynastyunderKingYazdegerdIII.HecapturedCtesiphon(TheNewSassanidCapital)andhedefeatedtheRoman
Armyseveraltimes.HeaddedArmeniaandMesopotamiatothePersianEmpire.AlargeArabarmyhadunited
againstPersia(battleofNehavand).ThelastSassanidkingYazdegerddoubtedtheycoulddoanythingbecausetheir
invasionsalwaysfailedinthepast.AlongandbrutalwaragainstthesavageArabinvadersstartedinthesouth
bordersofPersiaattheworsttimepossible,thecontinuous700yearsofwarwiththeRomanEmpirehadweakened
thePersianEmpireeconomically,militaristically,&spirituallyandcostmanylivesandthelastSassanidking
YazdegardwasnotpayinganyattentiontotheriseofIslamandtheinvadingarabsinthesouthatthattime.Lastbut
notleastThePersianTraitors&InfidelswhoalwaysbetrayedIran&spiedforRomeorArabs.PersianTraitors
weremanylowliveswhosoldIranbythepound,&theyarestilldoingitasofnow!
TheheadofPersianforces&theGrandGeneralinchargeofthedefenceRostamFarrokhzadfigured
whattheBloodthirstyArabswerefightingfor...fortheirhunger,andtheirnewGodAllahandhisso
calledHolyWaragainstthecivilizedWorld.(Arabsbelievedthattheycouldrape&plunderthe
populationandtakeanyonesland,sinceGodsaidthatitwasalltheirstotake,andiftheywoulddie
duringtheholywartheywouldgodirectlytoheavenandmeettheir72virgins).Itwasnotpossiblefor
thePersianstofightanofficialwaragainsttherebelliousJihadistArabswhodeliberatelytargetedun
armedcivilianstospreadfearandterroramongthepopulation.ForthefirsttimeRostam,TheMighty
LionofPersiaastheycalledhim...feltoutnumberedandcouldfinallyseetheEnd..Theythoughtthe
SassanidEmpirewouldlastforthousandsofyears.Rostamstoodinthefrontofhishorsegivinghislast
speechtellinghisarmyifhefalls,hewilltakeasmanysavageArabsashecan.Letthislastdaybethe
worseforthem...Thepersianbordersfalls,buttheresistancefromthepeoplemakesitmorebloody
thoughtheywerenotarmed,ResistancewasledbyamightywomannamedApranik.
GovernorRostamFarrokhzadMightySassanidArmyGeneralandWarrior

635C.E.ApranikwasaPersianSassanidHighRankingCommanderofArmyandthedaughterofPiran(the
greatGeneralofKingYazdgirdIII)andshefoughtgracefully,asaresistancecommander,fightingagainstArabo
Oppressors.ApranikwasmorelikeaTomBoy!Sincechildhood,shelovedmilitary.ShewasherFathersRighthand,
andtheamazingNationalisticFeelingsthatshedevelopedduringherteenageyearsledhertobecomeamilitary
person.LikeherfatherApranikdecidedtobecomeaprofessionalsoldierandsheclimbedthestepsofprogress,one
byoneandafterhercompleteeducation,shemanagedtorisefromapettyofficer,toafullcommanderofthePersian
Army.Apranikwasatirelessinspirationforhertroopsindefenseoftheirnationagainstoutsideaggressors.The
ArabBanditsattackedPersiassouthbordersattheworsttimepossible,thecontinuouscenturiesofwarwiththe
RomanEmpirehadweakenedthePersianEmpireeconomically,militaristically,&spirituallyandcostmanylives
andthelastSassanidkingYazdegardwasnotpayinganyattentiontotheriseofIslamandtheinvadingbarbaric
arabsinthesouthatthattime.
ApranikfullytookthecommandofamajorbattalionofthePersianArmydirectlyafterthefullscale
invasionandoccupationbyArabarmiesandsheledherdevotedwarriorsagainsttheAraboppressors
evenafterthelossofthePersianEmpireandSassanidDynasty.Asshegotwiser,shefoundoutthat
OrganizedWarfarewiththeArabsorTheDesertRatsasshereferedtothem,whoinvadeandhide,
andthenreinforceandinvadeagain,doesnotworktherefore,shestartedacampaignofatreacherous
battleagainsttheoccupiers.Foryearstocome,Apranik,firstfoughtanofficialwarandlateronwhenall
hopesweredestroyed,Apranik,startedherHitandRunRebelliousCampaignuntildeath.Apraniks
DedicatedCommandoWarfarewerelegendaryandrelentless.Herwhitehorsehasalwaysbeena
famoussymboloffreedomandstillistilthisday.
LegendaryCommanderApranikofthePersianSassanidArmy

CommanderApranikofSassanidArmyinBattleagainsttheinvaders

...ApranikandherRanks,neversurrendered,theyhavefoughtanongoingbloodybattletothebitter
ends.ApranikbecameasymbolforthePersianResistance&Freedom.Herbraveriesweresoknown,
thatshebecamethetalkofthePersianResistanceandPersianscreatedanexpressionforher!Every
timeafemalesoldierwouldhaveshownbraveryamongtheresistance,othersoldierswouldsmileand
callher:Apranik.Apraniksfamouswordsandpolicywere:Noretreat,nosurrender.Apranikacted
asabatterychargerforresistancesspiritandchosetofightwithhersoldiers,untilthebitterend,she
chosetobecuttopiecesbytheArabSword,thantobecomeaslavewhoreintheArabBed...and
eventuallyApranikbecamealegend.TheLegendofApranik,isstilllivingineveryfemalefreedom
fighterofPersiasheart.Mayhergreatspiritrestinpeace.ApranikDaughterofrenownedgeneralPiran
orastheyusedtocallherApranikofPiranswillalwaysbeinthePersianResistanceHallofFame.
ThisiswhatthePersianwomenweremadeof!
AGentlersideofCommanderApranikofthePersianSassanidArmy

639C.E.NeganwasafreedomFighterLeader,AGuerrillaCommanderduringSassanidsandaftertheArabo
Occupation,oneofthemajorresistancefightersofPersiaagainsttheArabInvasion.Neganwasnotamilitary
woman,norawomanofnobility,yetshehadaheartfullofloveforPersia.HerheartwaspoundingfortheMother
Land.shehaddecidedtopickuptheswordandleadabandofresistancefightersagainsttheAraboAnimalswho
invadedTheCivilizedWorldandMotherPersia.Shediedinbattleayearaftertheinvasion.

ThelastSassanidruler,YazdegerdIII,diedin651C.E.asafugitive.Thencameamajorturningpointinour
history:theArabicbarbarianinvasionofourIran.Thiswasthesecondofmanyforeignoccupyingforcestodominate
Iran.WiththeArabicinvasion,Iranwasagainfacedwithanenemyfromwithinwhichaimedtoundermineits
civilizationandidentity.Thefirstfactorusedtodestroyanationalidentitywasanattackonitspredominantreligion:
Zoroastrianism.
ClickHeretoreadtheHistoricalletterofYazdgirdIIItotheArabCalifOmar.

639C.E.AftersuccessfullydefendingitselfagainsttheRomanByzantineEmpiresforcenturies,thePersian
Empirewasswiftlyvanquishedbyarabs(brutalnomadictribesmen)armedwithanewlyacquiredfaith,Islam.There
werefourSassanidkingsinfouryears,andbecausetherewasnorealauthority,theArabswereabletodefeatthe
Persians,whowerestillZoroastrians.

ThehistoryofPersiansaftertheArabconquestcanbesummarizedinthreewords:oppression,misery
andmassacre.TheArabsinvadedPersianotonlyforitsreputedwealth,buttobringintothefaithnew
convertsandtoimposeIslamasthenewstatereligion.Theywerereligiouszealotswhobelievedthatin
areligiouswarifonekillsoriskilled,onesplaceinheavenissecure.Toimposethenewreligion,the
oldcultureandcreedhadtobedestroyed.Thereforefirsttheytargetedthelibraries,universitiesand
schools.OnlyfewexamplesreflecttheenormityofthecalamitythatbefelluponPersiaat630C.E.To
conquerPersiaandforceIslam,theArabinvadersresortedtomanyinhumaneactionsincluding
massacre,massenslavementofmen,womenandchildren,andimpositionofheavytaxesonthosewho
didnotconvert.

641C.E.WhentheArabcommanderSaadibneAbiVaghasfacedthehugePersianlibraryofCtesiphon(capital
city),hewrotetoOmar(Calif/RulerofArabMuslims):whatshouldbedoneaboutthebooks?.Omarrepliedthatthe
blasphemousbooksarenotneeded,asforusonlyKoranissufficient.Thus,thehugelibrarywasdestroyedandthe
booksortheproductofthegenerationsofPersianscientistsandscholarswereburnedinfireorthrownintothe
Euphrates.LaterbytheorderofanotherArabruler(GhotaibehibneMoslem)inKhwarezmia,thosePersianswho
wereliteratewithallthehistorians,writersandMobedsweremassacredandtheirbooksburnedsothatafterone
generationthepeoplewereilliterate.OtherlibrariesinRayandKhorassanreceivedthesametreatmentandthe
famousinternationalUniversityofGondishapourdeclinedandeventuallyabandoned,anditslibraryandbooks
vanished.Onlyfewbookssurvived,becausethePersianscholarsquicklytranslatedthemintoArabicinordertosave
them.
Itwasatremendousloss.Ourknowledgewouldbericherand,potentially,ourpathfromtheancient
worldtothemodernworldwouldhavebeenshorterandeasier,hadsomeoftheseworkssurvived.

646660C.E.Massmassacreandconversion:BytheorderoftheArabcommanderYazidibneMohalleb
inGorgansomanyPersianswerebeheadedthattheirbloodmixedwithwaterwouldenergizethemillstoneto
produceasmuchasonedaymealforhim,ashehadvowedandorderedthesoldierstocutoffthetongueofanyone
whodaredtospeakPersian.ThisiswhyinArabic,PersiansarecalledAjam,meaningmute!Theeventofbloodmill
hasbeenquotedbythegenerationsofhistoriansandPersianZoroastrianfamiliestothisday,yetourbooksof
historyhavebeensilentaboutit.Inrecentyearshowever,disenchantedPersianscholarshavebeenwritingaboutthe
bloodmillsandinfactthiseventhasbeenreportedbyourhistoriansoftheIslamicera.OnthewaytoMazandaran
(northernIran)thesamecommanderordered12,000Persiancaptivestobehangedatthetwosidesoftheroadso
thatthevictoriousArabarmypassthrough.Uponarrival,manymoreweremassacredinthatprovinceandheavytax
(Jizya)wasimposedonthesurvivorswhodidnotconvert.
OneoftheUmayyadCaliphswasquotedsaying:milkthePersiansandoncetheirmilkdries,
sucktheirblood.

Somehistorianshaveestimatedthatatotalof400,000Persianciviliansweremassacred.AfterthebattleofAlis,
theArabcommander(KhalidibneValid)orderedalltheprisonersofwarbedecapitatedsothatacreekofblood
flows.WhenthecityofEstakhrinthesouthputupstiffresistanceagainsttheArabinvaders,50,000residents
wereslaughtered.OneofthebattlesbytheArabshasbeennamed,Jelovla(covered),becauseanestimated
100,000bodiesoftheslainPersianscoveredthedesert.Itisreportedthat130,000Persianwomenandchildren
wereenslavedandsoldintheMeccaandMedinamarketsandlargeamountofgoldandsilverplundered.One
respectedPersianscholarrecentlywrote,Whysomanyhadtodieorsuffer?Becauseonesidewasdeterminedto

imposehisreligionupontheotherwhocouldnotunderstand.TheArabscolonized,exploited,rapedanddespised
thepopulation.TheyevennamedthePersianconvertsMavaliorliberatedslaves.Persianwomenbecamesecond
ratecitizenswhentheArabsconqueredPersiainaverybrutalway,theylostalltheirrightsandconsistentlyassigned
apassiveroleinthesociety.ManyPersianwomenjoinedtheresistancefightersagainstthebarbaricAraboppressors
andfoughttotheend,theyratherchosetobecuttopiecesbytheArabSword,thantobecomeaslaveorwhoreinthe
ArabBed.NeverthelesshistoryreflectstheextentofatrocitiescommittedbytheArabconquerors.
Persianshavedevelopedasurprisingabilitytoadapt,butonlyoutwardly,superficially&when
absolutelyrequired.Persiancultureisbothverystrong&resilient.IranwasneithertrulyArabized
norIslamized.

ArabTazizRapingandKillingCiviliansinPersiaandenslavingwomenandchildren

ArabsRapingandEnslavingwomenandsellingtheminMeccaandMedinamarkets

661750C.E.TheUmayyadCaliphateemergedastherulersoftheIslamicworld.Althoughtheymaintained
thePersianSassanidadministrativepractices,theUmayyadsconsideredIslamasprimarilyanArabreligionand
werewaryofPersianculture.TheytriedtoforcetheArabiclanguageuponthePersians,leadingtothedemiseofthe
MiddlePersianorPahlavialphabetinfavorofthenewArabic/Persianalphabetinusetothisday.Theyalsotriedto
eradicatetheindependentanduniquesenseofPersianidentityinthesamewaythattheyArabizedandassimilated
theEgyptiansandtheAssyrians,butwithminimalsuccess.
696C.E.ArabicbecametheofficiallanguageoftheIslamicworldbutnotinPersia.DuringtheIslamicperiod
manyPersianscholarsattemptedtorevivethePersiancultureandhistoryandreintroducethenationalidentityto
thedespisednation.AstheArabsdestroyedandburnedallthenonArabicandPahlaviwritings,Persianscholars
foundasolutiontosavethebooksthatwastotranslatethemintoArabic.Oneoftherarebooksthatsurvivedthe
carnagewasKhodainamak,aPahlaviwritingoftheSassanidera.
750C.E.WithPersianfinancingandsupport,theAbbasidsendedUmayyadrule.TheAbbasidshaddepended
heavilyonthesupportofPersiansintheiroverthrowoftheUmayyadsandtheirvictoriousarmieswereledbya
PersiangeneralnamedAbuKhorasani.TheIslamiccapitalwasrelocatedfromDamascustoBaghdad,anewlybuilt
cityadjacenttotheoldSassanidcapital,Ctesiphon.ThisrelocationsymbolizedtherisingpowerofPersiansinthe
Islamicworld.

751C.E.AzadDeylamiwasaGuerrillaCommanderandapartisanleaderfromCaspianSeashoresinnorthof
Iran,whofoughtbravelyformanyyearswithherbandoffreedomfightersagainsttheArabOppressors,duringthe
Occupationera.AzadwasfromDaylam(TodaysStateofGilaninIran).Daylamhadahistoryofrebellion.Untilthis
day,StateofGilanhasbeenthemotherandthehomeformanyoftheRevolutionariesandfreedomfightersofIran.
AzadeDaylami(AzadofDaylam)wasoneoftheveryfirstbravedaughtersofthisregion.Shebecameoneofthe
mostfamousfreedomfightersoftheregionandasymbolofPersianResistanceagainsttheForcedReligionand
GovernmentofIslam.

7501258C.E.TheAbbasidCaliphatereliedonPersianministersandbureaucracyformanystatefunctions.
PersiancustomsbegantotakedeeprootsundertheAbbasids.Theofficesofthevizier(minister)andthedivan(or
bureauforstaterevenue)werecopiedfromtheSassanidmodelandlatercaliphsadoptedthePersiancourts
ceremonialproceduresandthetrappingsoftheSassanidkings.ThePersianBarmakidfamilybecamearchitectsof
theAbbasidpoliticalstructureandseveralmembersoftheirfamilybecamenotablegrandviziers.TheAbbasidreign
markedthepinnacleofthepowerandgloryoftheIslamicworld.
795838C.E.BabakKhoramdinisconsideredasoneofthemostheroicfreedomfightersofPersiawho
initiatedtheKhoramdinanmovement.ItwasafreedomfightingmovementaimedtooverthrowtheTaziArabCaliph
occupiersandatthetimerulersofPersia.HewasborninBalalAbadregionofAzarbaijan(NorthwestofIran).
Babaksknowledgeofhistory,geography,andthelatestbattletacticsstrengthenedhispositionasafavorite
candidateforcommanderduringtheearlywarsagainsttheAraboccupiers.Oneofthemostdramaticperiodsinthe
historyofPersiawassetunderBabaksleadershipbetween816837C.E.Duringthesemostcrucialyears,theynot
onlyfoughtagainsttheCaliphate,butalsoagainstTaziArabbarbaricbehaviorsandcustoms.Eventually,Babak,his
wifeBanu,andhiswarriorswereforcedtoleaveTheCastleofBabak(GhaleyeBabak)after23yearsofconstant
successfulcampaignsthatkilledover500,000invadingArabsandBabaksmightyarmy(RedShirts)wasneveronce
defeated.AccordingtohistoriansoftheeraForeveryPersianthatdied10Arabsfollowedthemtothegrave!
HewaseventuallybetrayedbyanofficerunderhiscommandnamedAfshinandwashandedovertothe
AbbasidCaliph.DuringBabaksexecution,theArabCaliphshenchmenfirstcutoffhislegsandhands
inordertoconveythemostdevastatingmessagetohisPersianfollowers.LegendhasitthatBabak
bravelyrinsedhisfacewiththedrainedbloodpouringoutofhiscuts,thusdeprivingtheCaliphandthe
restoftheAbbasidarabarmyfromseeinghispaleface,aresultoftheheavylossofblood.

816838C.E.BanuwastheWifeofBabakKhoramdin(PersianLegendaryFreedomFighter),shefoughtside
bysidetoherhusbandBabak.TheyareconsideredasoneofthemostheroicfreedomfightersofPersia.Banuand
BabakworkedasrevolutionaryresistancefightersleadingthePersianResistanceMilitia.Thefamousfemale
commandoandrevolutionaryBanu,wasalioness.ThecentralareaofactivityforBanuwasAtropatganstateof
Persia.Nowthiswomanwasamazing!ShewasthebetterhalfofBabakKhoramdin(LegendaryFreedomFighter).
BanuwasatemperamentalWomanandaveryskilledarcher,shegrewupwithherbowandarrows!ShewasBabaks
partnerinlifeanddeath,inwarandpeace.BanuwasasymbolofPurePersianPride!BanuandBabakfoughtthe
ArabOccupationforyears.TheylivedandtheydiedasProudPersiansuntilthelastdropofbloodwasshed.

ArabOccupationforyears.TheylivedandtheydiedasProudPersiansuntilthelastdropofbloodwasshed.

AfterBabakandBanusexecutionmanyPersiansstartedrevoltsindifferentregionsofthecountryinorder
toregaintheirfreedom.Thisinturn,forcedtheArabCaliphstousemoreviolenceagainstthePersianpopulationin
ordertokeepthecountryundercontrolbuttheyfailedandeventuallyArabruleoverPersiabegantodiminish.
BabakssensationalandlegendarycampaigntodefendPersiasnationalidentityandinterestisstillpursuedafter
nearly1200years.EveryyearonhisbirthdayinJulytheIranianpilgrimsvisitBabaksfortressinSouthern
AzerbaijantohailtheirPersianhero,Babak,asthesymbolofPersianresistanceagainstTaziAraboccupiers.The
pilgrimsreadpoetryincludingShahnameh(theBookofKingsIransmostfamousepicbyFerdowsi)andplay
traditionalPersianmusic.TheyalsolightupbonfirestofollowtraditionalritualsofancientPersia.
ClickHeretoseeasummaryvideoclipinPersianaboutBabakslifeandHistory.
820C.E.ArabruleoverPersiabegantodiminish.TheArabsruledpartsofIranforsome80years,before
localPersianprincesemergedinSajestanandKhorassan.ItwasindeedthedarkestchapterofIranshistoryandhas
beencomparedtoanightmareassociatedwiththemoansofwidowsandorphans,adarknightofsilencethatwas
interruptedonlybythehootofowlsandtheharshsoundofthunder.FinallytheArabsweredrivenoutofPersia.
VariouslocalPersianmonarchsrosetopower:theTahirids(821873),Saffarids(867903),Samanids(873999),
Ziyarids(9281077)andBuyids(9451055).
ThelostancientPersianlanguagewasrestoredanditsoonblossomedintooneofthemostpoetic
languagesoftheworld.TheSamanidswerethefirsttoadoptPersianastheofficiallanguageoftheir
court.Onceagain,Persiabecameaworldcenterforart,literatureandscience.Itwasrenownedforthe
impulsethatitgavetoIraniannationalsentimentandlearning.Keyfiguresinnearlyallfieldsof
endeavorintheworld,PersiansplayedamajorroleintheadvancementofIslamiccivilization.

Allthecultural,scientificandphilosophicaladvancesofthesocalledIslamicworldcameoutofIran,andwere
advancedbyIranianminds.AndsotheseadvanceswerenotIslamic,butPersian.
850C.E.Khwarazmi,aremarkablemathematician,astronomerandtheinventorofAlgebra.Hewroteprecise
astronomicaltablesandthefirstworkofalgebra,TheBookofIntegrationandEquation.ThewordAlgebrais
derivedfromthisbookstitleandthewordAlgorithmfromhisownname.Hehelpedestablishtheconceptofzero
andperfectthedecimalsystem.Theculminationofhiswork,alongwiththatofotherPersianscholars,producedthe
ArabicnumeralsamodifiedversionofwhichreplacedtheRomannumeralsintheWestandwhichisstillinuseto
thisday.
879C.E.YaqubLeyswasthefirstPersianrulertoopenlyrevoltagainsttheArabs.HebroughtmuchofPersia
underhiscontrolandpromotedthePersianlanguage.ThestatueofYaqubLaithSaffaaricanbefoundinDezful,
southofwestIran.

865925C.E.Razi,oneofthemostaccomplishedphysicians,chemistsandphilosophersofhisera,invented
themedicalusageofalcoholandwroteanumberofbooksonavarietyoftopics,especiallymedicine.Oneofhismore
famoustreatises,OnSmallPoxandMeasles,wastranslatedintomanyEuropeanlanguages.

940C.E.RudakicrystallizedthenewPersianlanguageanditslyricalpoetry.Hewasthefirstmajorpoetofthe
Persianlanguage.Hiscontributionwasespeciallyimportantsincepoetrywastobecomeoneofthemainpillarsof
Persiancultureandidentity.
9401020C.E.Ferdowsi,Persiasnationalpoetandpossiblyitsgreatesthero,completedthenationalPersian
epic,Shahnameh,TheBookofKings,in1010.Ittookhim30yearsandconsistedofsome50,000couplets.Hewasa
genuinedefenderofPersiannationalidentityandhedeeplyresentedtheArabinfluence.Hewrotehisentireepic
storywithminimalusageofArabicderivedwords.ShahnamehconsistsofmythicalstoriesofpreIslamicPersia.The
bookschiefepicheroisanobleknightnamedRostam,whoembodiesvaluessuchasintegrity,strengthandchivalry.
FerdowsiisreveredbyallPersiansandmostconsiderhimsinglehandedlyresponsibleforreawakeningthePersian
language&preIslamichistory,identity&heritageofIran.ShahnamehiswritteninalmostpurePersianlanguage,
whichinitselfisextremelysignificant.

9801037C.E.AvicennaSina,oneofthemostsignificantscientistsandphilosophers,wroteover200books,
includingTheCannonofMedicine,anencyclopediasummarizingallthethenknownmedicalknowledgefromacross
theworld.ThisbookwastranslatedintoLatinandremainedthemostinfluentialbookofmedicineintheworlduntil
the17thcentury.Hewasalsoarenownedphilosopherwhoemphasizedtheuseoflogicandreasonasmeansof
discoveringthetruth.

9451055C.E.TheBuyids,fromnorthcentralIran,defeatedtheArabarmiesandcapturedBaghdad.
AlthoughtheyallowedtheCaliphtoretainhistitle,theyreducedtheroleoftheCaliphtothatofareligious
figurehead.TheBuyidsheldtheactualpoliticalpowerintheeasternIslamicworldforacentury.
10581111C.E.Ghazaliwasrecognizedasthemostprominentjuristandtheologianofhistime.Heargued
againstamerelyrationalandlogicalinterpretationofexistence,infavorofamoremysticandspiritual
understanding.HerepresentedtheviewoppositetoIbnSinasrationalismandsignificantlyunderminedthe
influenceofAvicennaSina.HewasanimportantintellectualpillarofSufism.Sufisstriveforadeeperunderstanding
oflifeandaclosercommunionwithGodthroughmeditation,innerselfexaminationandtherejectionofworldly
possessions.
10481122C.E.Khayyam,agreatmathematician,philosopher,poetandastronomer,performedthe
mathematicalcalculationstoreformthePersiancalendar,oneofthemostaccuratecalendersintheworldandstillin
usetothisday.KhayyamwasoftenadmonishedbecausehewasviewedasanunIslamiciraniannationalist.He
helpedbuildanimportantobservatoryinIsfahanandwrotehiscollectionofquatrains,Rubaiyat.Dealingwiththe
greatenigmasofhumanexistence,hispoemscelebratethedivinegiftsofloveandlife.TheRubaiyatwastranslated
byFitzGeraldinthe19thcentury,helpingKhayyamtobecomethemostfamousorientalpoetinEurope.Hiswork
hassincebeentranslatedintomanyotherlanguagesandmillionsofcopieshavebeensold.

1206C.E.GangisKhanunitedtheMongolclansandbeganhisattemptatworldconquest.

1220C.E.GangisKhanandhisMongolhordesattackedPersiawithunparalleledbrutality,bringingaboutone
oftheworstcatastrophesinthehistoryofmankind.InPersiasnortheasternprovinces,hisdescendants,especially
HulaguKhan,razedalmosteverymajorcity,destroyedlibrariesandhospitalsandslaughteredentirepopulations.
Thedeathtollestimatesrangedinthemillions.

1227C.E.GangisKhandied.Hisempirewasdividedamonghissons.TheIlKhaniddynastygainedcontrolof
thesegmentoftheMongolEmpirecoveringPersia(12581353C.E.).TheMongolsextendedtheirhegemonyover
majorpartoftheEurasianlandmassfromtheDanubetothePacificforthebetterpartoftwocenturies.

1271C.E.MarcoPolojourneyedthroughPersiaonhiswaytoChina.InhisBookofTravels,hewroteaboutthe
Mongolssavagery:Howsaditis,thedestruction,wasteanddeathinflicteduponthisoncemighty,prosperousand
beautifulPersia.

12071273C.E.Rumi,(Mawlana)thegreatestmysticalpoetofthePersianlanguageandtheauthorof
Mathnawi,elevatedSufismtounprecedentedheights.AlthoughaPersian,helivedinAnatolia(hisparentshad
migratedinfearoftheMongolsbrutality).Hispoetryandphilosophyhadasignificantinfluencethroughoutthe
Islamicworld.HisdisciplesfoundedthefamousWhirlingDervishmysticorder.Hispoemshavebeenwidely
translatedintomanyoftheworldslanguagesandtransposedintovariousformatsBBCNewshasdescribedhimas
themostpopularpoetintheworld.

1274C.E.NasirAlDinTusi,anastronomerandphilosopher,builttheMaraghahobservatory,thefirst
observatoryinthemodernsenseinthehistoryofscience.Hedevelopedthemathematicalcalculationsshowingthe
earthsrevolutionaroundthesunanditssphericalshapeandsize.HisworkwaslatertranslatedintoLatinand
predated,bysome200years,thatofCopernicus,consideredthefounderofmodernastronomyandtheoriginatorof
theideaofasolarcentereduniverse.

12131292C.E.SadiisoneofthemajorPersianpoetsofthemedievalperiod.Heisrecognizednotonlyforthe
qualityofhiswriting,butalsoforthedepthofhissocialthoughts.HisbestandmostsignificantPersianknown
worksareBustanandGulistan.HispoemsexercisedwideinfluenceinIndia,CentralAsiaandasfarasinChina.
Hispoemsemphasizedtheinterdependenceofallmankindregardlessofnationality,raceorreligion.Heaskedfor
thefollowinginscriptiononhistomb:FromthetombofSadi,sonofShiraz,theperfumeofloveescapes,thoushall
smellitstill1,000yearsafterhisdeath.

1295C.E.GhazanKhanbecamethefirstMongolilKhanidsleadertoconverttoIslam.Afterhisconversion,
theMongols,liketheGreek,ArabandTurkicinvadersbeforethem,becamePersianized.GhazanKhansprime
minister,RashidadDin,wasaPersianscholarwhowroteoneoftheearliestworksofuniversalhistory,JamiAl
Tawarikh.AfteralmostonehundredyearsofMongoldevastation,RashidadDinspoliciesbroughtaboutashort
livedperiodofpeaceandprosperity.ThevastMongolEmpirehelpedtofacilitatetheexchangeofideasandgoods
amongChina,IndiaandPersia.

1320C.E.KamalAlDinFarsipioneeredmajoradvancesinthefieldofopticswithhistheoriesonrefraction
andreflection.
13201390C.E.Hafez,thegreatestlyricpoetofthePersianlanguage,wrotehismostfamouswork,TheDivan.
HafizisabelovedmysticalpoetwhoalwaysrefreshestheloveofZoroastrianfaithinhispoetrybycallinghimselfa
followeroftheoldMagi.HafezwasaSufiandhispoetryischaracterizedbythesenseofbeauty,loveofhumanity
anddevotiontoGod.

1405C.E.Timur(Tamerlane),aTurcoMongolleader,conqueredmuchofPersiaanditssurroundingareas.
Hisconquestsyetagainconsistedofunimaginablecrueltyanddevastation.Althoughbrutal,hewasalsoapatronof
arts.HemadeSamarqandhiscapitalandbroughtartistsfromalloverPersia.Tamerlaneisprobablyremembered
mostforhismassacresandbrutality.80000wereslainatDelhi(manyofthemflayedandburnedalive)andthecity
itselfdidnotrecoveruntilalmostacenturylater,wholeirrigationsystemsandagriculturecentresweredestroyed
beyondrepair,towersweremadefromtheskullsofhisenemies,atSabzawarlivecaptiveswerecementedbetween
clayandbricktocreateminarets.Hewasresponsibleforruiningtradeintheregionandreducingpopulationsby
sometimesstaggeringamountsbutdespitethisTamerlaneappearstohaveindulgedintheartsandwasmuchloved
byhisfollowers.Tamerlanediedin1405.Afterhisdeath,hisempiredisintegrated,buthisdescendantsruledover
variouspartsofPersiaforalmostacentury.

1429C.E.JamshidKashani,amajormathematician,advancednumbertheory,inventedthefirstcalculating
machineandparticipatedintheastronomicalactivitiesatSamarqand.

15011524C.E.ShahIsmailIunitedallofPersiaunderIranianleadershipaftersomeninecenturiesofforeign
orfragmentedrule.BeingaShiite,hedeclaredShiismasthestatereligionandconvertedvirtuallyallofPersiaand

somesurroundingareasunderhiscontrolfromSunnismtoShiism.ShiismbecameamediumforthePersiansto
differentiatethemselvesfromtherestoftheIslamicworld,inparticularfromtheSunniOttomans.Toensureits
continuationasthestatereligion,theSafavidkingsingeneralsupportedtheShiiteclergy.

15871629C.E.ThereignofShahAbbastheGreatmarkedthepinnacleoftheSafaviddynasty.Hedeveloped
adisciplinedstandingarmyanddefeatedtheOttomans.In1598,hechoseIsfahanashiscapital.Astrongsupporter
ofthearts,especiallyarchitecture,headornedIsfahanwithsomeofthefinestIslamicmonumentsintheworld.He
builtanumberofmosques,schools,bridgesandamajorbazaar.Duringhisreign,Persiancraftsmenandartists
excelledincreatingfinesilks,cloths,porcelain,metalwork,calligraphy,miniaturesandcarpets.

15011722C.E.ThetwocontemporaryIslamicrivalsoftheSafavids,theOttomansinAnatoliaandtheMughals
inIndia,reliedonPersianartisansandpoetsformuchoftheirartsandliterature.Persianwasthelanguageofchoice
inbothoftheircourts.Thispreferenceisevidentfromtheirpoemsandminiaturepaintingswhosetextswerealmost
exclusivelywritteninPersian.PersianinfluencewasespeciallyprevalentinIndia,whereitwasalsotheculturaland

administrativelanguageitremainedsountilthecolonizationofIndiabytheBritish.TheTajMahalsprinciple
architectwasaPersiannamedUstadIsadanditsarchitecturalstylewassignificantlyinfluencedbyPersiandesigns.
1722C.E.MahmoudKhan(MoghulKhan),anAfghanchieftainandavassaloftheSafavids,attackedPersia
andcapturedIsfahanwithvirtuallynoresistance,thusendingtheSafaviddynasty.
17291747C.E.NaderShah,anofficeroftheSafavids,wasabletoexpeltheAfghansandreunitethecountry.
Hewasabrilliantmilitarystrategist,defeatingtheOttomans,Russians,Indiansandvariouslocaltribes.Inhis
invasionofMughalIndia,NaderShahcapturedtwooftheworldsgreatestdiamonds,theSeaofLight(nowinIran)
andtheMountainofLight(nowpartoftheBritishCrownJewels).NaderShahbecameincreasinglyparanoidand
wasassassinatedbyhisownguardsmen.Afterhisdeath,hisgreatmilitarymachinecollapsed.

17471779C.E.KarimKhanZandgainedcontrolofcentralandsouthernpartsofIran.Hewasa
compassionaterulerwhorefusedtoassumethetitleofShahandreferredtohimselfastheRepresentativeofthe
People.Hefoughtextensivelywitharivaltribe,theQajars.AfterKarimKhanZandsdeathin1779C.E.Aqa
MohammadKhanQajargraduallyvanquishedtheZandsandestablishedtheQajardynasty.

1795C.E.AlthoughTheQajarssucceededinreunitingthecountry,theyweregenerallyweakandcorrupt
rulers.TheeconomicandmilitarygapbetweenIranandtheWestwidenedconsiderablyundertheirreignespecially
inlightoftheIndustrialRevolutionthatwastakingplaceintheWest.However,theQajarperiodalsoenjoyedahigh
degreeofartisticexcellence,producingsomeofIransfinestpaintings,tileworksandarchitecturalmonuments.
1813&1828C.E.EuropeanimperialismresultedinEnglishandRussianpenetrationinIranianaffairs.The
QajarslosttheCaucasus(presentdayGeorgia,ArmeniaandAzerbaijan)totheRussiansintwoseparatetreaties:the
Gulistanin1813andtheTurkmanchayin1828.Asaresultofthe1828treaty,theQajarswereforcedtoenactthe
Capitulationlaw,exemptingallforeigncitizensfromIranianjurisdiction.ThislawdeeplyhumiliatedtheIranian
people.
18511906C.E.TheQajarslostcentralAsianprovincestotheRussiansandwereforcedtogiveupall
claimsonAfghanistantotheBritish.ThesetwoEuropeanpowersdominatedIranstradeandmanipulatedits
internalpolitics.TheQajarsandinfluentialmembersoftheircourtwerebribedtosellmanyvaluableconcessionsto
theBritish,suchastheTobaccoConcessionwhichtriggeredamassivepopularuprising.
1906C.E.DiscontentwithQajarcorruptionandmismanagementledtotheConstitutionalRevolutionandthe
establishmentofIransfirstparliamentorMajles.Theconstitutionalaspirationsforalimitedmonarchywerenever
tobefullyrealized.AlthoughIranneverbecameanactualcolonyofimperialpowers,in1907itwasdividedintotwo
spheresofinfluence.ThenorthwascontrolledbyRussiaandthesouthandtheeastbyBritain.BytheendofWWI,
Iranwasplungedintoastateofpolitical,socialandeconomicchaos.
1921C.E.RezaKhan,anofficerinthearmy,stagedacoup.Initiallytheministerofwarandthentheprime
minister,in1925RezaKhandecidedtobecometheShahhimself.AlthoughRezaKhansinitialobjectivewasto
becomethepresidentofarepublic,theclergy,fearingadiminishedroleinarepublic,persuadedhimtobecomethe
Shah.

19251941C.E.ThePahlavidynastycanbeseenasoneveryimportantIraniandynastysincetheSassanid
Empire.TheIranianpatriotismandserviceofRezaShahtheGreattotheIraniannation,culture,andidentityis
unquestionable.Afteramillenniumandahalf,hewasthefirsttotrulyrecognizetheimportantrolethatourpre
Islamicheritageandcivilizationserveinouridentity.ThekingsoughttorebuildIranwheretheSassanidshadleft
off.TheGreatRezaShahPahlavisfirstprioritywastostrengthentheauthorityofthecentralgovernmentbycreating
adisciplinedstandingarmyandrestrainingtheautonomyofthetribalchiefs.Heembarkeduponaseriesof
modernizingandsecularreforms,someofwhichweredesignedspecificallytobreakthepoweroftheclergyover
Iranseducationalandjudicialsystems.Heprovidedpubliceducation,builtIransfirstmodernuniversity,opened
theschoolstowomenandbroughtthemintotheworkforce.HeinitiatedIransfirstindustrializationprogramand
dramaticallyimprovedIransinfrastructurebybuildingnumerousroads,bridges,stateownedfactoriesandIrans
firstTransnationalrailway.In1935,heofficiallyrequestedallforeigngovernmentstonolongerrefertoIranas
Persia,butasIran.(TheIranianpeoplethemselveshadalwaysreferredtotheircountryasIran.)Politically,however,
RezaShahforciblyabolishedthewearingoftheveil,tookawaytheeffectivepoweroftheMajlesanddidnotpermit
anyformsoffreespeech.WiththeoutbreakofWWII,RezaShah,wantingtoremainneutral,refusedtosidewiththe
Allies.

1941C.E.InneedoftheTransIranianrailwaytosupplytheSovietswithwartimematerials,theAlliesinvaded
andoccupiedIranforthedurationofthewar.RezaShahwasforcedtoabdicateinfavorofhissonMohammadReza
PahlavianddiedinSouthAfricainexilein1944.
1946C.E.AnalliancebetweenIrananditsneighborscreatedagreatwallagainstSovietexpansionandunder
Americanpressure,theSovietUnionwasforcedtopulloutofIransnorthwesternprovince.Itwasthefirstandonly
timethatStalingavebackaWWIIoccupiedterritory.

19511953C.E.IransMajlespassedalawsponsoredbythenationalistic(soontobeprimeminister)Dr.
MossadeqtonationalizeIransoilfromBritishcontrol.TheBritish,enragedbythethreattotheiroilconcessions,
frozeallofIransSterlingassetsandtooktheircasetotheInternationalCourtofJustice.TheCourtruledinIrans
favor.Undeterred,theBritishplacedatotaltradeembargoonIranandenforceditwiththeirnavy,leadingtothe
collapseofIranseconomy.Citingthethreatofacommunisttakeover,BritishIntelligenceandtheCIAsponsoreda
couptotoppleDr.Mossadeqsgovernment.Inthemidstofthecoup,theyoungShah,havingthoughttheplanhad
failed,leftthecountry.Shortlythereafter,Dr.MossadeqsgovernmentwasoverthrownandtheShahwasputbackin
power.

19621963C.E.TheShahintroducedhisWhiteRevolution.Itconsistedofmajorlandreform,workersrights
andwomenssuffrage,amongotherinitiatives.Hisreformsdidnotdevelopasplannedduetopoorexecution.Ina
seriesofpublicspeeches,AyatollahKhomeiniattackedthesereforms.Hewasarrestedandthenexiled.Aseriesof
reforms,consistingof19elements,wereplannedandintroductedoveraperiodof15years.thefirst6elementswere
introducedin1963andputtoanationalreferendumonJanuary26th,1963withoverwhelmingapprovalbythe
public.ToreadfurtherabouttheachievementsandkeyconstraintsoftheWhiteRevolution.

19631973C.E.Iranexperiencedrapideconomicgrowthandprosperitycoupledwitharelativelystable
politicalclimate.Iransinfrastructure,publichealthandeducationalinstitutionswereexpanded.Anumberof
highways,roads,bridges,railroadtracks,waterandsewageprojects,factories,schools,universitiesandhospitals
werebuilt.Iransmilitarystrengthgrewanditsinternationalprestigewasenhanced.

19731979C.E.TheoilembargoquadrupledIransoilrevenueto$20billionayear.Thisnewwealth
acceleratedtheShahstimetabletomakeIrancatchupwiththeWest.TheShahsdeterminationtomodernizeIran
virtuallyovernightandatanycostledtoculturalshock,alienationofthemasses,inflation,corruption,economic
bottlenecks,massiveurbanization,risingexpectationsandincreasingauthoritarianismindealingwiththesesocial,
economicandpoliticalproblems.Bythelate1970s,theShahsopponents,ofallpoliticalaffiliations,unitedbehind
AyatollahKhomeini.TheShahwasoverthrownin1979bytheIslamicRevolutionanddiedinEgyptayearlater.
Unfortunately,thePahlaviDynastysnationalisticeffortswerehalted,undermined,andgreatlyreversedwiththe
secondIslamicinvasionandtheformationofanIslamicRepublicbasedontheArabIslamideologyandcult.After
2500yearsofmonarchy,Iransgovernmentwaschangedtoatheocraticrepublic,TheIslamicRepublicofIran(at
timesreferredtoastheSecondArabinvasion).

TheIranianpeopleshouldonceagainhavefullpolitical,socioeconomicandculturalequality,thepressshouldbe
freeandthereshouldbeaseparationofreligionandstateinIranasitonceusedtobe.Freedomdoesnotcomefree
andnoonewilleverdeliverittousinasilverplatter.Wemustbuildrelationshipsthatareunimpededbygender
baseddistinctionsanddiscrimination.Freedomisthemostpreciousvalue.Itistheveryessenceofprogress...

IransforeignpolicyTohelpyoucomprehendIranscurrentAmericapolicy,youneedtolookbeyondthe
headlinesandsearchforthosefundamentalculturalandpsychologicalfactorsthatdriveIransforeignpolicyin
generalanditsAmericapolicyinparticular.NorealgraspofIransbehaviorinworldpoliticsispossiblewithout
appreciatingthattheIranianpeopletakedeepprideintheirculture.Theytakeprideintheinfluenceoftheirancient
religion,Zoroastrianism,onJudaism,ChristianityandIslam.Theytakeprideinfiftycenturiesoftheirscience,arts
andartifacts,inthecontinuityoftheirculturalidentityovermillennia,inhavingestablishedthefirsthumane
FederalWorldEmpiremorethan2500yearsago,inhavingorganizedthefirstinternationalsocietywhichrespected
thereligionsandculturesofthepeoplewhowereundertheirrule,inhavingliberatedtheJewsfromBabylonian
captivity,andinhavinginfluencedGreek,Roman,Arab,MongolandTurkishcivilizations.Butthissenseofpridein
thegreatnessoftheircultureandhistoryiscounteredbyadeepsenseofvictimization.TheIranianpeoplefeelthey
havebeenoppressedbyforeignpowersduringtheirlonghistory.TheyrememberthatAlexanderofMacedonia,
Arabs,MongolsandTurksinvadedandconqueredtheirhomeland.
IraniansalsorememberthattheBritishandtheRussianempiresexploitedthemeconomicallyand
subjugatedthempolitically,andthattheCIAofUSAdestroyedtheirdemocraticallyelectedgovernment
andstagedacoupin1953engineeredbytheBritishandAmericanintelligenceservicesthatdestroyed
thepopularlyelectedgovernmentofDr.Musaddiq.TheUnitedStatesreturnedtheshahtothethrone,
andAmericaneconomic,political,militaryandculturaldominationensuedoverthefollowingquarter
centuryuntiltherevolutionin1979(TheYearThatChangedtheWorldasweknewit).Nottomention
thePersiancivilianairlinerIranAirFlight655thatwasshotdownbyUSmissilesonJuly1988,killing
all290passengersandcrewaboard,including66children,rankingitamongthedeadliestairliner
fatalities.TheUnitedStatesmustbearitsfairshareofresponsibilityfortheproblemsthathavearisen
inU.S.Iranianrelations.

PersianIdentityIranhasneverbeenanArabiccountryandneverwillbe!Iranianpeoplehaveverystrongties
totheirhistory,cultureandlanguage,whicharedistinctivelyPersian.Theyareveryproudoftheirrichheritage,
stronglyadmiretheirformerKingofKings,especiallyCyrustheGreatandhislegacyofintroducinghumanrightsin
apoliticalsettingofthefirsthumaneandequalFederalWorldEmpire.AnotherreasonforwhichPersiansdislike
beingmistakenlyidentifiedasArabsisbecauseArabIslamicarmyconqueredPersiainaverybrutalwayandforced
themtochangetheirreligion,andcustomsbytheedgeofasword.WhenArabsconqueredPersiatheydestroyedour
styleofHumaneFederalism,EqualRights,FreedomofspeechandFreedomofreligionandreplacedthosefactors
withcentralbrutalgovernment,prejudiceandslavery.ButPersiancultureandrichhistoryconqueredthem!Persiais
theonlycountrywhichdidntbecomeanArabcountry(likeEgypt,Babylonia,Assyria,Phoeniciaandalltheother
ancientcountriesconqueredanddestroyedbyArabs)andinspiteofcenturiesofinvasionsandforeignruleby
Greeks,Arabs,Turks,Mongolsetc.Persiahasretaineditsownstrongidentity.
ForcenturiesArabshastriedtodestroyourculture,ourlanguage,science,poetry,literature,
philosophy,religion,race,traditions,celebrations,music,artsandofcourseourCalendar.Theynever
fullysucceeded!WakeupPersia!Wewouldliketoendbysayingthatwearecertainthatlightwill
overcomedarkness/fanaticism,andPersia,alikethelegendarybirdSimorghofShahnameh,willonce
againrisefromherashesandregainherrichhistory.Persia,hasalwaysbeenhometothosewho
throughouthistoryhavefoughtfortheideaoffreedomandequality.
DontforgetourbraveandmightyLionsandLionesses!

Agreatcivilizationisnotconqueredfromwithoutuntilitdestroysitselffromwithin.
TheFutureIrantodaystandsatthecrossroadsofhistoryandweliveinremarkabletimes,andthankstothe
tyrannyoftheislamicrepublic,wearenowabletoshedtheIslamicpastandmoveaheadintothefuture.Afuture
withoutIslam,oranyotherorganisedreligion.Inthis,wearefarmorefortunatethantherestoftheworld,foronce
thisregimecrumblesintodust,thetyrannyofreligionwillneveragainraiseitsuglyheadinourland,forwewill
neverforget.IslamasanArabideologyhasbeenadiseaseforIranandIraniansandtheonlypeoplewhohavetruly
onceandforalluprootedIslamfromIranaretheMullahsthemselvesinonlythreedecades.Inaway,weshouldbe
gratefultothemforthisremarkableachievment.
Forus,thereisnogoingbacktothesuperstitionsofthedistantpast.Thereisonlythefuture,where
PanIranism,Atheism,Equalism,Democracy&Freedomawaitsus...Today,thereareanestimated226
millionIranicpeopleandPersianspeakersworldwide.
FormillenniumswheninvaderscametoPersia,theIraniansneverbecometheinvaderstheinvaders
becameIranians.TheirconquerorsweresaidtohavegonePersian,likeAlexander,who,afterlaying
wastetothevanquishedPersia,adopteditsculturalandadministrativepractices,tookaPersianwife:
PrincessRoxana,andorderedthousandsofhistroopstodothesameinamasswedding.Persiansseem
particularlyproudoftheircapacitytogetalongwithothersbyassimilatingcompatibleaspectsofthe
invaderswayswithoutsurrenderingtheirownaculturalelasticitythatisattheheartoftheirPersian
identity.
TheInvadersCantControlWhatsInsideUs

MayGod(AhuraMazda)alwayslightyourpathandblessyouwithlessonstogrowby!
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