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The region known as Iran was settled during the Neolithic revolution. It settled villages and agricultural life based on the domestication of plants and animals. Their religion was dominantly Zoroastrianism. The spellings of Iranian names and terms are given in forms of phrases and words from the Avesta (Bible). Their myths came from their religion (rewarded for good; punished for bad), sacrafice to the Gods for good crops, etc. Religious experts were deemed nobles, priests and ran society. -
During antiquity, the region of Iran was controlled by one estimate group that share a common language and religion. The majority of the population of Iran consisted of the Nomad people. The largest groups in this region were the Persians. They mostly spoke Old Persian, a southwestern dialect* (a form of language) of Iranian, and was a nonliterate*. The primary religion of ancient Iran remained to be Zoroastrianism. This religion may have originated as early as 4,000 years ago. -
Iran goes through many leadership changes. First came the invasions of the Turks, Macedonians, Monguls, and Arabs, followed by the Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanian Empires (lasted four centuries). The Sasanid Empire restored Iran to greatness like the Roman Empire. It tolerated many religions but used Zoroastrianism as a unifier. It had centralized government, and developed a Persian culter through education and creating monuments, art and music that influenced the Middle East. -
After fighting off and on, the Muslims took control of Iran. This ended Zoroastrianism and brought in Islam as the dominant religion. Zoroastrian books were burned and priests executed. The country was ruled by the monotheistic religion that Muhammad is a messenger of God and Islamic law impacts all aspects of life from banking and welfare to women and the environment. They follow the Quran. Even so, Persians maintained their language and culture to some degree. -
Reza Shah Pahlavi was an Iranian king who implemented social, political, and economic reforms hoping to modernize the country. Iran was heavily impacted by western culture, and his attempts at western reforms, repression, and American policies unintentionally fostered the seeds of a revolution. Years later, Americans were held hostage during the revolt. Ironically, It was the love of U-S film that helped free some of the hostages. I met the wife of the spy who led the mission. -
The Islamic clergy destroyed the monarchy system, abandoned western values, and established a theocracy with a greatly influential emphasis on the Islamic religion being woven back into society during the Iranian revolution. The newly created republic opted to convert to Islam. The Persian language was expected, in comparison to other languages, especially American English which was culturally problematic -
In Iran, there are several ethnic groups but one primary religion (Islam) and language (Farsi). Islam is now the most popular religion of modern-day Iran.Sunni and Shi'i are the largest branches of Islam. Iran's government is unique because it must follow Islamic law and a Islamic jurist must be the political guardian. After Revolution, the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Iran made the "guardian" , Ayatollah Khomeini, as the first Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.