Written history in Iran begins with the Proto-Elamites around 3000BC, and continues with the arrival of The Aryans and the establishment of the Median dynasty, followed by the Achaemenids, who built the world's first global empire, under Cyrus the Great in 546BC. The name Persia is derived from Persis, the ancient Greek name for the empire, although Eratosthenes also mentions the name "Iran". Alexander the Great conquered Persia in 331 BC, soon only to be succeeded by the Parthian and Sassanid dynasties, who followed the Achaemenids a ...

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Iran, Iran - Name, Iran - History, Iran - Government and Politics, Iran - Geography, Iran - Climate, Iran - Provinces, Iran - Economy, Iran - Demographics, Iran - Ethnic groups, Iran - Religion, Iran - Major cities, Iran - Culture, Iran - Miscellaneous topics, Iran - Notes and references

Read more here: » Iran: Encyclopedia II - Iran - History

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Iran, Iran - History, Iran - Government and Politics, Iran - The Supreme Leader Rahbar, Iran - The President Ra'is-e Jomhoor, Iran - The Parliament Majles, Iran - The Assembly of Experts, Iran - The Council of Guardians, Iran - The Expediency Council, Iran - The Judiciary, Iran - Provinces, Iran - Geography, Iran - Climate, Iran - Economy, Iran - Demographics, Iran - Ethnic groups, Iran - Religion, Iran - Major cities, Iran - Culture, Iran - Miscellaneous topics, Iran - Notes and references

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The ancient nation of Iran was historically known to the West as Persia until March 21, 1935. The name was used in the West due to the ancient Greek name for Iran, Persis. Persia is used to describe the nation of Iran, its people, or its ancient empire. The Persians call their country Iran / Iranshahr since Sassanian period. The name Persia comes from a region in the south of Iran, called Fars or Pars in the Persian language. Persis is the Hellenized form of Pars, based on which other European nation ...

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History of Iran, History of Iran - Ancient history, History of Iran - Islamic Conquest, History of Iran - Iran after arrival of Islam, History of Iran - The Middle Ages, History of Iran - Before the First World War, History of Iran - World Wars, History of Iran - United States and the Shah, History of Iran - Islamic Revolution, History of Iran - The Islamic Republic, History of Iran - History related articles on Iran

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"Astara is an area where Zoroaster(zartosht)may have visited and there were Its history dates back to 6000 years ago.The spoken language was talyshi but due to commerce with Azeri Turks and migration of Azeris into town the use of Taleshi reduced significantly." There is also a city with this name just on apposite side of the border, inside the Azerbaijan Republic territory. The Northern Astara (azerbaijani Astara) was ceded from Persia by the Gulistan Tr ...

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Astara Iran, Astara Iran - Etymology:, Astara Iran - History, Astara Iran - People

Read more here: » Astara Iran: Encyclopedia II - Astara Iran - History

"Astara is an area where Zoroaster(zartosht)may have visited and there were Its history dates back to 6000 years ago.The spoken language was talyshi but due to commerce with Azeri Turks and migration of Azeris into town the use of Taleshi reduced significantly." There is also a city with this name just on apposite side of the border, inside the Azerbaijan Republic territory. The Northern Astara (azerbaijani Astara) was ceded from Persia by the Gulistan T ...

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Astara, Iran, Astara, Iran - Etymology:, Astara, Iran - History, Astara, Iran - People

Read more here: » Astara, Iran: Encyclopedia II - Astara, Iran - History

Christianity in Iran has had a long history. It has always been a minority religion, overshadowed by the majority state religions - Zoroastrianism in the past, and Shia Islam today. Christians of Iran have played a significant part in the history of Christian mission. Christians in Iran - Main denominations. A number of Christian denominations are represented in Iran. Many members of the larger, older churches belong to ethnic groups with their own distinctive culture and language. The members of the newer, ...

Including:

Christians in Iran - Main denominations Christians in Iran - History Christians in Iran - Current situation Christians in Iran - The Bible in Iranian languages Christians in Iran - Further Literature

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Pre-revolutionary Iran's economic development was rapid. Traditionally an agricultural society, by the 1970s, Iran had achieved significant industrialization and economic modernization. However, the pace of growth had slowed dramatically by 1978, just before the Islamic revolution. Since the revolution, growth has been rather slow. Iran's current difficulties can be traced to a combination of factors. Economic activity, severely disrupted by the revolution, was further depressed by the war with Iraq and by the decline of oil prices be ...

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Economy of Iran, Economy of Iran - History, Economy of Iran - Sectors of the Economy, Economy of Iran - Oil sector, Economy of Iran - Agriculture, Economy of Iran - Other sectors, Economy of Iran - Current status, Economy of Iran - Foreign trade and economic relations, Economy of Iran - Iran and the World Trade Organization, Economy of Iran - Other statistics, Economy of Iran - Banks of Iran, Economy of Iran - Major banks, Economy of Iran - Relevant links, Economy of Iran - Official, Economy of Iran - Semi-official

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The Arabs of Khuzestan are the Arabic-speaking or Arab-descended inhabitants of what is now the Iranian province of Khuzestan. Before the 1908 discovery of oil in Khuzestan (See History of Khuzestan), most of the province's inhabitants were settled or semi-nomadic Arabs. The growth of the oil industry, and later Iranian government policies designed to "Persianize" the area, tipped the demographic balance. There was much immigration into the ...

Including:

Arabs of Khuzestan - History
Arabs of Khuzestan - Arabization Arabs of Khuzestan - Forced Persianization under the Pahlavis Arabs of Khuzestan - The Iran-Iraq war
Arabs of Khuzestan - Contemporary status of the Arabs of Khuzestan

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Khuzestan was once inhabited by a people known as Elamites, who were neither Indo-European (like the Medes and Persians of the Iranian plateau) nor Semitic (like the peoples of other Mesopotamian city-states). Some scholars believe that they were the remnant of an even more ancient population, related to the Dravidians of southern India. Archaeologists and historians have documented various Elamite dynasties ranging from approximately 2700 BCE to 644 BCE However, various early proto-Elamite ruins such as Sialk exist in central Iran. The boun ...

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History of Khuzestan, History of Khuzestan - The Elamites, History of Khuzestan - The Achaemenid Empire, History of Khuzestan - Alexander and the Seleucids, History of Khuzestan - The Parthians, History of Khuzestan - The Sassanids, History of Khuzestan - The Arab conquest and the caliphate, History of Khuzestan - The Mongol invasion, History of Khuzestan - Centuries of local rule, History of Khuzestan - The British century, History of Khuzestan - Modernization and Persianization, History of Khuzestan - Fall of the Shah, History of Khuzestan - Iran-Iraq war, History of Khuzestan - Aftermath of the war

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Isfahan province has many centers of attraction aside from the city of Isfahan itself. Kashan for example is a well worth destination for many tourists, as are Nain, where Iran's oldest mosque still stands, and Qamsar where roseflower is naturally made every year. Isfahan province is an industrial center of Iran. Rapid development of the industrial sector in this province has made it one of the greatest, if not the greatest in ...

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Isfahan Province, Isfahan Province - Geography, Isfahan Province - History and culture, Isfahan Province - Isfahan province today, Isfahan Province - Colleges and Universities, Isfahan Province - Major cities

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Greater Khorasan has witnessed the rise and fall of many dynasties and governments in its territory throughout history. Various tribes of the Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Turkemen and Afghans brought changes to the region time and time again. Ancient geographers of Iran divided Iran ("Iran-Shahr") into eight segments of which the most flourishing and largest was the territory of Greater Khorasan. The famous Parthian empire was based near Merv in Khorasan for many years. However they did have many fortifications and strongholds in Khorasan, such as the ...

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South Khorasan Province, South Khorasan Province - History, South Khorasan Province - South Khorasan today, South Khorasan Province - Attractions, South Khorasan Province - Colleges and universities

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Greater Khorasan has witnessed the rise and fall of many dynasties and governments in its territory throughout history. Various tribes of the Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Turkemen and Afghans brought changes to the region time and time again. Ancient geographers of Iran divided Iran ("Iran-Shahr") into eight segments of which the most flourishing and largest was the territory of Greater Khorasan. The famous Parthian empire was based near Merv in Khorasan for many years. During the Sassanid dynasty the province was governed by an Espahbod (Lieutenant General) called "Padgoosban" and four margraves, each ...

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Razavi Khorasan Province, Razavi Khorasan Province - History, Razavi Khorasan Province - Razavi Khorasan today, Razavi Khorasan Province - Attractions, Razavi Khorasan Province - Colleges and Universities

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Disruption in the central government made various Iranian regional separatists bolder. In 1980, six Khuzestani Arab separatists temporarily seized the Iranian embassy in London; see London Embassy Seige. Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi dictator, is said to have supported the separatists. Soon after the embassy drama (1980), his troops invaded Khuzestan. They expected that the Arab inhabitants would welcome them as liberators, and that the Iranian army would be too weak to resist them. Both expectations were delusory. After initial gains, the Iraqis were repulsed and ...

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History of Khuzestan, History of Khuzestan - The Elamites, History of Khuzestan - The Achaemenid Empire, History of Khuzestan - Alexander and the Seleucids, History of Khuzestan - The Parthians, History of Khuzestan - The Sassanids, History of Khuzestan - The Arab conquest and the caliphate, History of Khuzestan - The Mongol invasion, History of Khuzestan - Centuries of local rule, History of Khuzestan - The British century, History of Khuzestan - Modernization and Persianization, History of Khuzestan - Fall of the Shah, History of Khuzestan - Iran-Iraq war, History of Khuzestan - Aftermath of the war

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Greater Khorasan has witnessed the rise and fall of many dynasties and governments in its territory throughout history. Various tribes of the Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Turkemen and Afghans brought changes to the region time and time again. Ancient geographers of Iran divided Iran ("Iran-Shahr") into eight segments of which the most flourishing and largest was the territory of Greater Khorasan. Esfarayen, among other cities of the province, was one of the focal points for ...

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North Khorasan Province, North Khorasan Province - History, North Khorasan Province - North Khorasan today, North Khorasan Province - Attractions, North Khorasan Province - Colleges and Universities

Read more here: » North Khorasan Province: Encyclopedia II - North Khorasan Province - History

With the collapse of the Qajar dynasty, which had descended into corruption, and the rise of Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1925, who began introducing secular reforms limiting the power of the Shi'a clergy, Iranian nationalist and socialist thinkers had hoped that this new era would also witness the introduction of democratic reforms. However, such reforms did not take place and the reign of Reza Shah was, for the most part, a dictatorship to the very end. Reza Shah had also oppressed ethnic minorities and was seen by nationalist thinkers of the time ...

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Pan-Iranism, Pan-Iranism - History

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History of Iran Empires of Iran: Jiroft Kingdom Elamite Kingdom (2700 BC-539 BC) Mannaeans kingdom (10th-7th century BC) Median Empire (728 BC-550 BC) Achaemenid Empire (648 BC–330 BC) Seleucid Empire (330 BC–150 BC) Parthian Empire (150 BC–AD 226) Sassanid Empire (AD 226–650) Iran under Arab caliphates (650–934) Tahirid dynasty (821-873) Saffarid dynasty ...

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Iranian Revolution, Iranian Revolution - Precursors to the revolution, Iranian Revolution - Pre-revolutionary conditions inside Iran, Iranian Revolution - Early protests, Iranian Revolution - United States, Iranian Revolution - Escalating protests, Iranian Revolution - Overthrow of the Shah, Iranian Revolution - Khomeini takes power, Iranian Revolution - Opposition to the revolution, Iranian Revolution - Western/U.S.-Iranian relations, Iranian Revolution - Opposition by neighboring regimes, Iranian Revolution - Exile of previous regime, Iranian Revolution - Post-revolutionary impact, Iranian Revolution - Footnotes

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History of Iran Empires of Iran: Jiroft Kingdom Mannaeans kingdom Elamite Kingdom Median Empire Achaemenid Empire Seleucid Empire Parthian Empire Sassanid dynasty Islamic conquest of Iran Tahirid dynasty Saffarid dynasty Ziyarid dynasty Samanid dynasty Buwayhid dynasty Ghaznavid Empire Seljukid empire Khwarezmid ...

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Iranian Revolution, Iranian Revolution - Precursors to the revolution, Iranian Revolution - Pre-revolutionary conditions inside Iran, Iranian Revolution - Early protests, Iranian Revolution - United States, Iranian Revolution - Escalating protests, Iranian Revolution - Overthrow of the Shah, Iranian Revolution - Khomeini takes power, Iranian Revolution - Opposition to the revolution, Iranian Revolution - Western/U.S.-Iranian relations, Iranian Revolution - Opposition by neighboring regimes, Iranian Revolution - Exile of previous regime, Iranian Revolution - Post-revolutionary impact, Iranian Revolution - Footnotes

Read more here: » Iranian Revolution: Encyclopedia II - Iranian Revolution - Precursors to the revolution

History of Iran Empires of Iran: Jiroft Kingdom Elamite Kingdom Mannaeans kingdom Median Empire Achaemenid Empire Seleucid Empire Parthian Empire Sassanid dynasty Islamic conquest of Iran Tahirid dynasty Saffarid dynasty Ziyarid dynasty Samanid dynasty Buwayhid dynasty Ghaznavid Empire Seljukid empire Khwarezmid ...

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Iranian Revolution, Iranian Revolution - Precursors to the revolution, Iranian Revolution - Pre-revolutionary conditions inside Iran, Iranian Revolution - Early protests, Iranian Revolution - United States, Iranian Revolution - Escalating protests, Iranian Revolution - Overthrow of the Shah, Iranian Revolution - Khomeini takes power, Iranian Revolution - Opposition to the revolution, Iranian Revolution - Western/U.S.-Iranian relations, Iranian Revolution - Opposition by neighboring regimes, Iranian Revolution - Exile of previous regime, Iranian Revolution - Post-revolutionary impact, Iranian Revolution - Footnotes

Read more here: » Iranian Revolution: Encyclopedia II - Iranian Revolution - Precursors to the revolution

Iran is a constitutional Islamic Republic, whose political system is laid out in the 1979 constitution called Qanun-e Asasi. Iran's makeup has several intricately connected governing bodies, some of which are democratically elected and some of which operate by co-opting people based on their religious inclinations. See also: Foreign relations of Iran, U.S.-Iran relations, Iran-Israel relations, Iran-China relations The concept of velayat-e faqih (guardianship of the jurist) plays a crucial role in governme ...

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Iran, Iran - Name, Iran - History, Iran - Government and Politics, Iran - Geography, Iran - Climate, Iran - Provinces, Iran - Economy, Iran - Demographics, Iran - Ethnic groups, Iran - Religion, Iran - Major cities, Iran - Culture, Iran - Miscellaneous topics, Iran - Notes and references

Read more here: » Iran: Encyclopedia II - Iran - Government and Politics

Football was a unknown sport in Iran until British workers introduced the game in the 1930's. At that time they were working at major oil refineries in the province of Khuzestan. The British played among themselves at first, as 22 men in shorts chasing after a plastic ball seemed to be more of a joke than a game to Iranians. The skepticism was short-lived and eventually the Iranian workers started playing as well, and in a small amount of time, football became extremely popular in Khuzestan. Clubs were established, an ...

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Football in Iran, Football in Iran - History of football in Iran, Football in Iran - Football Structure

Read more here: » Football in Iran: Encyclopedia II - Football in Iran - History of football in Iran