The history of Iran is a long and complex story of invasions, resistance, reconstructions, and the perseverance of an ancient nation.
The glory and greatness of Iranian history diminished when foreign invaders swarmed our land from all sides. Iran has experienced many ups and downs throughout its existence. It suffered devastating blows and still continued to rise. Many patriotic men and women tried to defend their country to their last breath in fateful moments and sacrificed their dear lives for Iran. People whose names are sometimes not even recorded in Iranian history books and remain anonymous.
The history of this land shows us how a nation survived its collapse after becoming a great civilization and empire. The history of Iran is a perplexing story of the conviction of a nation that has tried to preserve its identity by leaning on its cultural excellence.
In order to make it easier to remember the many dynasties of Iran’s history and easy access to a summary of Iran’s history, Destination Iran presents it in chronological order.
Prehistoric Timeline
The Paleolithic Period (1,000,000 – 13,000 Years Ago)
The Paleolithic era in Iran started around one million years ago. It marks the use of stone in crafting tools. The tools from this period are rudimentary, but we see a focus on stone blades in the Middle Paleolithic period. This era is divided into four periods:
Lower Paleolithic Period (1,000,000 – 200,000 years ago)
Evidence of human settlements from this period is found in various sites in the north, northeast, and northwest of modern-day Iran in the Kashafrud Basin near Mashhad, Ganj Par site and Darband Caves in Gilan, and Shiwatoo site in West Azerbaijan province. The hominin species in this era included the Homo erectus and the Homo ergaster.
Middle Paleolithic Period (200,000 – 40,000 years ago)
Most evidence from this period has been discovered along the Zagros mountain range. The Neanderthal species from the Mousterian culture roamed central Iran during the Middle Paleolithic era. The archeological sites from the Middle Paleolithic period include the Tamtameh Cave cave near Lake Urmia in West Azerbaijan province, and several caves in Lorestan, Gorgan, Kermanshah, and Isfahan provinces.
Upper Paleolithic (37,000 – 13,000 years ago)
The evolution of stone tools in the Upper Paleolithic in Iran was observed in archeological sites in Kermanshah, Lorestan, Shiraz, and Kashan.
Epipaleolithic Period
This period bridges the gap between the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. It lasted from 20,000 to 13,000 years ago. During this period, hunter-gatherer and fisher groups inhabited the caves of the Zagros region and across modern-day Kermanshah, Lorestan, Shiraz, and Kashan.
| Culture/Archaeological Site | Location | Estimated Time of Origin (BCE) |
| Kashafrud Culture | Kashafrud | 100,000 – 30,000 years ago |
| Ganj Dareh Culture | Kermanshah | 11,000 – 10,000 years ago |
| Yafteh Cave Culture | Zagros Mountains | 40,000 – 30,000 years ago |
| Bisitun Cave Culture | Kermanshah | 40,000 – 10,000 years ago |
| Wezmeh Cave Culture | Kermanshah | 40,000 – 10,000 years ago |
| Warwasi Culture | Kermanshah | 40,000 – 10,000 years ago |
| M’lefaat Culture | Kermanshah | 35,000 – 12,000 years ago |
| Belt Cave Culture | Kermanshah | 35,000 – 12,000 years ago |
| Darband Culture | Kermanshah | 35,000 – 12,000 years ago |
| Kobeh Culture | Kermanshah | 35,000 – 12,000 years ago |
| Ourmiah Culture | Kermanshah | 35,000 – 12,000 years ago |
| Barda Balka Culture | Kermanshah | 35,000 – 12,000 years ago |
| Kelar Culture | Lorestan | 40,000 – 10,000 years ago |
| Rostamabad Culture | Lorestan | 30,000 – 10,000 years ago |
| Balarud Culture | Shiraz | 30,000 – 10,000 years ago |
| Tepe Sialk Culture | Kashan | 10,000 – 9,000 years ago |
| Zarzian Culture West | Azerbaijan | 18,000 – 8,000 years ago |
| Tureng Tepe Culture | Gorgan | 12,000 – 8,000 years ago |
| Qaleh Bozi Culture | Isfahan | 11,000 – 9,000 years ago |
The Neolithic Period (10,000 – 8,000 Years Ago)
Significant changes occurred in human civilization during the Neolithic era, around 10,000 years ago. Humans transition from hunting and gathering to settled life. Agriculture is developed, and communities cultivate crops and domesticate animals.
| Culture/Archaeological Site | Location | Estimated Time of Origin (BCE) |
| Chogha Bonut Culture | Khuzestan | 7,000 – 6,200 years ago |
| Chogha Mish Culture | Khuzestan | 6,200 – 5,200 years ago |
| Jarmo Culture | Kurdistan | 7,000 – 6,000 years ago |
| Zagheh Culture | Kurdistan | 6,300 – 5,850 years ago |
| Tajrish Culture | Tehran | 7,000 – 6,500 years ago |
| Cheshmeh-Ali Culture | Tehran | 7,000 – 6,500 years ago |
| Sarab Culture | Tehran | 8,000 – 6,800 years ago |
| Ganj Dareh Culture | Kermanshah | 10,000 – 8,000 years ago |
| Ali Kosh Culture | Kermanshah | 9,000 – 7,500 years ago |
| Chia Jani Culture | Lorestan | 7,500 – 6,200 years ago |
| Tepe Asiab Culture | Lorestan | 6,000 – 5,000 years ago |
| Konar Sandal A Culture | Lorestan | 6,000 – 5,000 years ago |
| Rudbar Culture | Shiraz | 7,500 – 6,000 years ago |
| Tape Sialk Culture | Kashan | 7,500 – 6,500 years ago |
| Chogha Golan Culture | West Azerbaijan | 8,000 – 6,500 years ago |
| Yarim Tepe Culture | Gorgan | 8,000 – 6,500 years ago |
| Hasanlu Culture | West Azerbaijan | 6,500 – 5,800 years ago |
| Kabudan Tepe Culture | Isfahan | 7,000 – 6,000 years ago |
Chalcolithic Period (Copper Age) (8,000 – 6,000 Years Ago)
The Chalcolithic period bridges the gap between the Neolithic and Bronze Age. It’s characterized by the use of both stone and copper tools. Around 5500–3500 BC, communities in Iran developed advanced pottery, traded goods, and engaged in early metallurgy. The number of villages increased during this period, and cities grew in size as well.
| Culture/Archaeological Site | Location | Estimated Time of Origin (BCE) |
| Sialk Culture | Kashan | 5,500 – 4,200 years ago |
| Hajji Firuz Tepe Culture | Hamadan | 5,500 – 4,200 years ago |
| Tal-i Iblis Culture | Khuzestan | 5,000 – 4,500 years ago |
| Tal-i Bakun Culture | Khuzestan | 5,000 – 4,500 years ago |
| Siah Dareh Culture | Kermanshah | 5,000 – 4,200 years ago |
| Tepe Siahku Culture | Lorestan | 5,000 – 4,200 years ago |
| Tepe Yahya Culture | Lorestan | 5,000 – 4,200 years ago |
| Tall-e Bakun A Culture | Lorestan | 5,000 – 4,500 years ago |
| Hajji Firuz Tepe Culture | Lorestan | 5,100 – 4,100 years ago |
| Qaleh Kandi Culture | Lorestan | 5,000 – 4,300 years ago |
| Anau Culture | East Azerbaijan | 5,000 – 4,500 years ago |
| Tal-i Malyan Culture | Fars | 5,500 – 4,200 years ago |
| Cheshmeh Ali Culture | Fars | 5,500 – 4,200 years ago |
| Godin Tepe Culture | Kerman | 5,500 – 4,200 years ago |
| Zanbil Tepe Culture | Kerman | 5,500 – 4,200 years ago |
| Tal-i Malyan Culture | Kerman | 5,500 – 4,200 years ago |
Bronze Age, Indo-Aryan Migration, Medes Empire (5,400 – 3,400 Years Ago)
In this age, large cities emerged and trade networks expanded. Civilizations invented monumental architecture. This era ushered a remarkable age of prosperity for civilizations in the Iranian Plateau. The Indo-Aryan tribes started a slow process of migration to the Iranian plateau during this period. In addition, The Medes rose to power during this period but left no records of their history.
| Culture Archaeological Site | Location | Estimated Time of Origin (BCE) |
| Marlik Culture | Gilan | 3,300 – 2,200 years ago |
| Jiroft Culture | Kerman | 3,300 – 2,200 years ago |
| Shahr-i Sokhta Culture | Sistan and Baluchestan | 4,200 – 3,400 years ago |
| Shah Tepe Culture | Fars | 3,300 – 2,200 years ago |
| Hissar Culture | Fars | 3,300 – 2,200 years ago |
| Zavkhan Culture | Khuzestan | 3,300 – 2,200 years ago |
| Arisman Culture | Lorestan | 3,500 – 2,200 years ago |
| Bani Surmah Culture | Lorestan | 3,300 – 2,200 years ago |
| Yahya Culture | Lorestan | 3,000 – 2,400 years ago |
| Bampur Culture | Sistan and Baluchestan | 3,300 – 2,200 years ago |
| Mangul Tepe Culture | Sistan and Baluchestan | 3,300 – 2,200 years ago |
| Jazirah Culture | Kerman | 3,500 – 2,500 years ago |
| Kulli Culture | Kerman | 3,500 – 2,500 years ago |
| Konar Sandal B Culture | Lorestan | 3,300 – 2,200 years ago |
| Keban Culture | Lorestan | 3,300 – 2,200 years ago |
| Dalma Culture | Khuzestan | 3,500 – 2,500 years ago |
Iron Age, Rise of the Achaemenids (3,250 – 2,500 Years Ago)
With the rise of the Neo-Assyrian empire and its historical records, the prehistorical period ends. They start to refer to a civilization in Iran, but there are no iron artifacts in Iranian archeological sites dating back to this period. After the rise of the Achaemenids, the prehistoric era in Iran officially ends.
| Culture Archaeological Site | Location | Estimated Time of Origin (BCE) |
| Luristan Bronzes Culture | Lorestan | 1,300 – 650 years ago |
| Hasanlu Culture | Azerbaijan | 1,250 – 700 years ago |
| Kurangun Culture | Kerman | 1,250 – 700 years ago |
| Tepe Hissar Culture | Fars | 1,200 – 700 years ago |
| Marlik Culture | Gilan | 1,200 – 700 years ago |
| Izeh Culture | Khuzestan | 1,200 – 700 years ago |
| Kangavar Culture | Kermanshah | 1,200 – 700 years ago |
| Meshgin Shahr Culture | Ardabil | 1,200 – 700 years ago |
| Kermanshah Culture | Kermanshah | 1,200 – 700 years ago |
| Sagzabad Culture | Fars | 1,200 – 700 years ago |
| Khorvin Culture | Gorgan | 1,200 – 700 years ago |
| Sialk Culture | Isfahan | 1,150 – 650 years ago |
| Shahdad Culture | Kerman | 1,150 – 500 years ago |
| Tappeh Sialk | Isfahan | 1,200 – 650 years ago |
| Haft Tepe | Fars | 1,100 – 700 years ago |
History of Iran before Islam
- From 2500 to 2600 years BC
The beginning of the rule of the Elamite dynasty, the Awan dynasty, and the war against Mesopotamia.
- From 1100 to 1450 BC
The middle Elamite period, when the war between the Elamites and Mesopotamia was still going on.
- 814 years BC Cyrus the Great, A New Civilization in Elam
Historical documents from this period were classified for 200 years.
After the war left Elam in ruins, Cyrus the Great marched there through Ashan and took control of Elam around 558 BC, opening a chapter of great empires in the history of Iran.
The History of Iran After Islam
Public discontent with Sassanid’s authority gave the Arabs invaders ample opportunity to attack and conquer Iran. After the collapse of the Sassanid kingdom and the Arab conquest of Persia, a new chapter opened in the history of Iran, marking the beginning of the Islamic history of Iran.
After the Arab invasion of Iran, Iranians experienced three periods of Arab rule: The Rashidun Caliphate, the Umayyad Dynasty, and the Abbasid Caliphate. All of them were faced with the unrest and rebellion of Iranians against Arab rule. Since the Abbasid caliphate, Iranians gradually managed to establish semi-independent local governments, leading to the decline of the Caliphate’s rule over Iran.
Iranian History After the Arab Invasion of Iran
- 661 to 750 AD The rule of Umayyad Caliphate in Damascus.
- 750 to 1257 AD The rule of the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad.
- 756 to 1031 AD Arab Caliphate of Córdoba.
- 872 to 903 AD The establishment of the Saffarid dynasty in Khorasan.
- 903 to 999 AD The rise of the Samanid dynasty in Khorasan.
- 935 to 1055 AD The rise of the Buyid dynasty near Shiraz.
- 962 to 1044 AD The emergence of the Ghaznavids dynasty in the east and challenge to Samanid authority.
Seljuk and Ilkhanid (Mongol)
From 1037 until 1055 AD, the Seljuk Turks attacked Iran led by Tughril I. The Buyid dynasty was ended by Abu Muslim Abd al-Rahman ibn Muslim al-Khurasani, the Iranian commander of the Abbasid Revolution.
Chronology of Seljuk and Ilkhanid Periods
- 1073 AD The pinnacle of Seljuk dynasty.
- 1090 AD to 1257 AD The establishment of Al Ismail, or Nizari Ismaili state
- who were later called “Hashashins” or assassins, in the Alamut region, the southern foothills of the central Alborz mountain range ad near Qazvin.
- 1117 AD to 1194 AD Reign of Sultan Ahmad Sanjar and the end of the Seljuk dynasty in Iran.
- 1219 AD to 1227 AD Near total destruction of Iran by the Moghul invasion of Genghis Khan.
- 1256 AD to 1265 AD Establishment of Ilkhanid dynasty by Hulagu Khan, Genghis Khan’s grandson, and appointment of Maragheh as capital.
- 1295 AD to 1304 AD Ghazan Khan and his eventual conversion to Islam.
- 1334 AD The end of the Ilkhanid dynasty.
Timurid
Chronology of Timurid Dynasty
- 1380 AD to 1393 AD Timur conquered Iran. The Church of the East was closed.
- 1397 to 1447 AD Timur destroyed India and died shortly after. His successor, Shahrukh Mirza, conquered the “Amu Darya” region.
- 1408 AD to 1453 AD Rise of Qara Qoyunlu Turkmen.
- 1461 AD The Ottoman Turks invaded the northwest of Iran and pushed the Timurids back to the east.
Safavid
The Safavid were able to establish a powerful central government in Iran. Shah Ismail is the founder of this dynasty. Shah Abbas led this dynasty to the peak of power and stability.
During the Safavid era, Iran was engaged in constant conflict with the Ottoman Empire, its neighbor to the east.
Chronology of Safavid Dynasty
- 1502 AD to 1524 AD Shah Ismail I founded the Safavid dynasty. Shia Islam was declared the country’s official religion for the first time in the history of Iran.
- 1587 AD to 1628 AD Shah Abbas I defeated the Ottomans in the north, conquered Baghdad, and selected Isfahan as the capital.
- 1624 AD to 1722 AD The Afghan Siege of Isfahan led to the ransacking of the kingdom. The Safavid dynasty was dethroned. At this time, Soltan Hoseyn was the king. After him, Shah Tahmasab II and Shah Abbas III tried to seize power in some regions of Iran but were unsuccessful.
- 1722 AD to 1724 AD The Afghan army conquered Iran and pillaged Isfahan and Shiraz. They massacred the Safavid princes.
Afsharid and Zand
Nader Qoli was a war general who freed Isfahan from the Afghan invaders and delivered it to the Safavid king, Shah Tahmasab II. Shah Tahmasp was defeated in the battle with the Ottomans and signed a peace treaty with the Ottoman Empire. Nader Qoli Khan realized the Safavid incompetence and decided to take matters into his own hands.
With the support of Iranian elders, Nader Khan was crowned Nader Shah and founded the Afsharid dynasty. After Nader Shah Afshar, the Afshar dynasty did not have a powerful king and was replaced by the Zand dynasty.
Chronology of the Afsharid and Zand Dynasty
- 1729 AD to 1739 AD Nader Qoli Khan established the Afsharid dynasty, drove out the Afghan invading forces, and conquered Afghanistan and India. Then he repelled the Ottoman invasion of Iran. He did not have a proper successor and with his death, the Afsharid dynasty collapsed.
- 1750 to 1795 AD The Zand dynasty ruled with Shiraz as Capital. After the Afsharid and before the rise of the Qajar in Iran, Karim Khan Zand established a government in Iran that lasted 46 years.
The Qajar
The Qajar dynasty ruled Iran for 130 years. During their reign, important regions of Iran were lost to foreign interests, and the country encountered a rather eventful period.
Chronology of Qajar Dynasty
- 1795 AD to 1925 AD The Qajar dynasty was a local authority and ruled in Tehran.
- 1796 AD Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar founded the Qajar dynasty.
- 1818 AD During the reign of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar, the Treaty of Gulistan was finalized between Iran and Russia, which saw lands from the north of Iran surrendered to Russia.
- 1827 AD Russian Occupation of Tabriz.
- 1828 AD The Treaty of Turkmenchay was signed between Fath-Ali Shah Qajar and the Tsarist government of Russia, concluding the Russia-Iran war. According to this agreement, Yerevan, Nakhichevan, and the remainder of Talysh Khanate were surrendered to Russia.
- 1896 to 1906 AD Persian Constitutional Revolution took place.
- 1906 AD Establishment of Persian Parliament, Constitutionalism was officially adopted as a system of government.
- 1908 AD Rise of Iranian Nationalist Movement.
- 1909 AD The Anglo-Persian Oil Company was founded; This company was later called British Petroleum.
- 1917 to 1919 AD The Persian famine occurred in Iran during the First World War. 40% of Iran’s population perished in this famine.
- 1920 AD The uprising of Shaikh Mohammad Khiābāni in Tabriz and Mirza Kuchik Khan in Gilan.
- 1909 AD to 1923 AD Ahmad Shah was the last Qajar king. Reza Khan was appointed as the Prime Minister.
- 1922 AD The 1921 Persian coup d’état by Reza Khan and the removal of Ahmad Shah, the last Qajar king. The Qajar dynasty collapsed in 1924.
Pahlavi
With the collapse of the Qajar dynasty, the Pahlavi dynasty gained power in Iran. During this period, Iran entered a new era of development and took a step toward modernity. The history of Iran witnessed the modernization of the country for the first time. Reza Shah Pahlavi tried to revive the ancient culture of Iran and the ancient Persian empire. He is known for his dominance and dictatorship in governance.
Chronology of the Pahlavi Dynasty
- 1925 AD Reza Khan declared himself “Reza Shah” and founded the Pahlavi dynasty.
- 1314 AD The title of Pars or Persia was selected for Iran and globally announced as the official name of the country.
- 1941 AD During World War II, the Allies occupied Iran. Reza Shah abdicated the throne and went into exile. His son Mohammad Reza replaced him as the next Pahlavi king.
- 1943 AD The Tehran Conference was held hosting Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin. Iran regained its territorial integrity.
- 1951 AD Dr. Mohammad Mosaddegh was elected as the prime minister and worked towards the nationalization of the oil industry.
- 1953 AD The 1953 Iranian coup d’état against the Nationalization of the Iranian oil industry, during which Mohammad Mosaddegh was arrested and put on trial. Mohammadreza Shah returned to Iran.
- 1955 AD Iran joined the Central Treaty Organization.
- 1959 AD Iran signed a defense pact with the United States.
- 1963 AD Ayatollah Khomeini instigated a religious uprising on a national level and in protest against the Shah.
- 1967 AD Official Coronation of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Queen Farah Pahlavi.
- 1969 AD Heightened tensions between Iran and Iraq over the rights to Arvandrud (Shatt Al Arab).
- 1971 AD The 2,500-year celebration of the Persian Empire.
- 1978 to 1979 AD People’s protests against the monarchy increased, and Mohammadreza Shah left Iran, leading to the collapse of the Pahlavi dynasty.
The Islamic Republic of Iran
Chronology of the Islamic Republic of Iran
- 1979 AD The majority of Iranians voted to establish the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran under the leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini.
- 1980 AD Iraq Invasion of Iran and Iran–Iraq War.
- 1988 AD Iran and Iraq recognized United Nations Security Council Resolution 598 and Iran announced the final ceasefire of the 8-year war.
- 1989 AD Ayatollah Khomeini died and Ayatollah Khamenei was selected as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.
Summary Table of Iranian History
Here is a brief table indication the history of Iran at a glance:
| Row | Dynasty | Start | End |
| 1 | Medes | 549 BC | 607 BC |
| 2 | Achaemenid | 330 BC | 550 BC |
| 3 | Seleucid | 247 BC | 330 BC |
| 4 | Parthian | 224 BC | 247 AD |
| 5 | Sassanid | 224 AD | 642 AD |
| 6 | Arab Rule | 642 | 821 |
| 7 | Tahirid | 821 | 893 |
| 8 | Alid | 828 | Gradual Collapse |
| 9 | Saffarid | 867 | 892 |
| 10 | Samanid | 892 | 1005 |
| 11 | Zyarid, Buyid and Daylamites | 928 | 1052 |
| 12 | Ghaznavids | 962 | 1040 |
| 13 | Seljuk | 1040 | 1194 |
| 14 | Khwarazmian or Anushtegin | 1194 | 1231 |
| 15 | Ilkhanid | 1256 | 1383 |
| 16 | Timurid | 1383 | 1501 |
| 17 | Safavid | 1501 | 1736 |
| 18 | Afsharid and Zand | 1736 | 1795 |
| 19 | Qajar | 1795 | 1925 |
| 20 | Pahlavi | 1925 | 1979 |
Learn More About the History of Iran
- Investigating the rise and fall of the Achaemenids by visiting three historical places
- Iran on the ancient silk road, the old network of trade routes
- History of Khwarazmian; The era of fear and war (1077 to 1231 AD)
- History of Ghaznavids in Iran after Islam (977 to 1186 AD)
- History of Zyarid, Buyid, and Daylamites (928 to 1062 AD)
- History of Samanid in Iran after Islam (819 to 999 AD)
- History of Saffarid in Iran after Islam (861 to 1003 AD)
- History of Alid in Iran after Islam (year 863 to 928 AD)
- The history of Tahirid in Iran after Islam (from 821 to 873 AD)
- The Importance of Cyrus the Great in the History of Iran
- History of Seljuks, Invaders to Iran in the 11th Century (1040 – 1194)
- The Revolutionary Life and Lasting Legacy of Sattar Khan, Iran’s National Hero
- Zandieh Dynasty, an Era of Reform and Peace (1751-1794 CE)
Frequently Asked Questions About the History of Iran
If you cannot find the answer to your question about the history of Iran here, leave us a comment in the comments section below this post and ask your question. We will answer it as soon as possible.
What are the major prehistoric civilizations of Iran?
In the history of Iran, there have been various ancient civilizations, some of which were independent states and some semi-autonomous. The most important of these civilizations are:
● Shahr-e Sukhteh Ancient Civilization (burnt city) in Sistan
● Shahdad Kalouts in Kerman
● Tepe Sialk in Kashan
● Marlik Hill civilization in Gilan
● Jiroft Culture in Kerman
● Elam civilization in Khuzestan
● Teppe Hasanlu civilization in Azerbaijan
How old is civilization in Iran?
By examining the oldest discovered artifacts of ancient settlements in Iran, such as Tepe Sialk and Savojbolagh ills, we can trace back Iranian ancient civilizations to before 7500 BC.
What is the prehistoric period?
The prehistoric period or the prehistoric era refers to a time when humans did not yet have the capacity or tools to record history or leave behind any traces of their civilization. One of the most important reasons for this is the fact that writing systems were not invented. Historians can only make assumptions about their way of life and the condition of the people based on the remaining evidence from that era.
What are the different prehistoric periods in the history of Iran?
In general, the Iranian prehistoric era is divided into four parts:
The Paleolithic and Epipalaeolithic age (from about one million years to roughly 12 thousand years ago)
The Neolithic period (from about 10 thousand to 8 thousand years ago)
The Chalcolithic Age (from about 8 thousand to 5300 years ago)
The Bronze Age (from about 5300 to about 4000 years ago).
Are all Iranians ethnically Aryans?
There is no such thing as a pure ethnic group in the world. Aryan tribes entered Iran in the second millennium BC and integrated with other tribes in the Iranian plateau. Therefore, Iranians cannot be considered Aryans.
In addition, some experts have recently claimed that the great Aryan migration to the Iranian plateau did not happen. Rather, various tribes and races that we consider Aryans have always lived on this plateau. They were the ones who migrated to some of the northern regions of Greater Iran and also to Europe.
What was the ancient name for Iran?
The ancient name for Iran was Pars or Persia. The word Iran is also mentioned in ancient Avesta texts. Iran was the name that grew popular in the first Pahlavi period.
Are all Iranians Persian?
The Iranian nation consists of different Persian, Kurdish, Baluch, Gilaki, Arab, Lor, and Azari ethnic groups. Parsians or Parthians are also one of the Iranian tribes.
What role have Iranians played in the development of human civilization?
Iranians have played an ancient and important role in the evolution of the ancient civilizations of the world, and they have been practicing Sedentism since the 6th millennium BC.
When does the history of ancient Iran begin?
Historians consider the period from the rise of the Medes Empire (549 BC) to the collapse of the Sassanid dynasty and the Arab invasion of Iran (632 AD) the history of ancient Iran.
How old is the history of Iranian civilization?
According to archaeological findings and evidence, ancient civilizations emerged on the Iranian plateau more than seven thousand years ago. Some consider the establishment of central governments in Iran as the beginning of Iranian history and believe that Iran as a nation formed with the beginning of the Achaemenid dynasty in 550 BC.
In general, experts believe that Iran is more than 7 thousand years old.
Was Iran a larger country in ancient times?
The biggest empires in the world have been established in or governed from Iran: The Achaemenid, Sassanid, Seljuk, and Ilkhanid empires.
Who was the founder of the first central government in Iran?
Cyrus the Great founded the Achaemenid Empire in 550 BC. The history of Iran couldn’t start without his ambitious efforts.
How old are the most ancient relics found in Iran?
The oldest man-made artifacts found in Iran date back to 200,000 years ago, which were made of stone.
How old are the most ancient architectural structures discovered in Iran?
Since 8,000 years ago, Iranians have been building houses in hills in the historic Savojbolagh region and Tepe Sialk and Harsin hills.
How many historical hills are located in Iran?
It is estimated that Iran has 200,000 historical hills belonging to different prehistoric and historical eras.
How many powerful dynasties were in Iran before Islam?
The largest territory and the most powerful kingdom in the history of Iran before Islam was the Achaemenid government. Of course, the Sassanid also gained huge influence and power at some junctures in Iran’s history before Islam.
How long was Iran under the control of Arabs after the arrival of Islam?
The Arabs invaded Iran in 633 AD and caused the collapse of the Sassanid dynasty. This control lasted until 821 AD when the Tahirid established a semi-autonomous government.
When did the Islamic historical era in Iran begin?
In the history of Iran, the Islamic period begins with the fall of the Sassanid empire and the victory of the Arabs. The Arab conquest of Persia brought about major changes in various aspects, including social, religious, and political. For this reason, many experts use the term “Islamic Period” to describe Iranian history after Islam.
What were the major wars that took place in ancient ran?
The Battle of the Persian Gate between Iran and the Greeks in 330 BC and the Roman–Persian Battle of Emesa in 272 AD were two major battles in ancient Iran.
How many times has Iran been invaded throughout history?
● Alexander’s conquest of Persia: 334 BC
● Roman Invasion of Persia: 283 AD
● The attack of the Seljuk Turks: 1037 AD
● Mongol invasion of the Khwarazmian Empire: 1219 AD
● Timur’s military conquest of Persia: 1383 AD
● Afghan invasion of Isfahan: 1722 AD
● Ottoman Siege of Trebizond: 1461 AD
● Russian invasion: 1827 AD
● Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran: 1941 AD
● Iraqi Invasion: 1980 AD
