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Timeline of Persian / Iranian History |
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| Dynasty, Ruler
or Event |
Begin |
End |
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| Birth of
Zoroaster |
Sometime
between 10th and 7th century BCE |
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| Achaemenian
Dynasty |
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Cyrus the Great |
559 BCE |
530 BCE |
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First to extend Persian empire |
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Builder of Pasargad |
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Killed in battle by Queen Tomyris of the Massagetaes |
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530 BCE |
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Tomb at Pasargad |
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Cambyses (son of Cyrus) |
530 BCE |
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Extended empire into Egypt |
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Darius I |
521 BCE |
486 BCE |
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28 year old royal spear bearer; branch of Achaemenian
family |
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Married widow of Cambyses and daughter of Cyrus |
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Put down internal revolts; carved story in rock at
Hamadan |
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Moved into Punjab, in present-day India. |
517 BCE |
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Using chariots, drove into Libya |
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Persian army reached lower Danube -- height of Empire |
512 BCE |
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Builder of Persepolis |
500 BCE |
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Greek victory at Battle of Marathon |
490 BCE |
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Tomb at Naqsh-e Rostam |
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Ganjnameh (Treasure Book) carvings
near Hamadan |
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Xerxes |
486 BCE |
465 BCE |
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Brought foreign architects and artisans to work at
Persepolis |
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Marched on Greece; defeated Spartans at Thermopylae |
481 BCE |
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Conquered Athens and set fire to the Parthenon |
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Lost navy at Battle of Salamis |
480 BCE |
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Xerxes murdered by a palace conspirator |
465 BCE |
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Tomb at Naqsh-e Rostam |
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Ganjnameh (Treasure Book) carvings
near Hamadan |
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Artaxerxes I |
465 BCE |
424 BCE ? |
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Tomb at Naqsh-e Rostam |
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Darius II |
425 BCE ? |
405 BCE |
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Tomb at Naqsh-e Rostam |
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Artaxerxes II |
405 BCE |
361 BCE |
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Tomb above Persepolis |
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Artaxerxes III |
361 BCE |
338 BCE |
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Tomb above Persepolis |
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Darius III |
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Defeated by Alexander the Great |
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| Alexander the
Great |
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Crossed Hellespont |
332 BCE |
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Took, looted and burned Persepolis |
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| Selucid
Dynasty (founded by Alexander's generals) |
312 BCE |
44 BCE |
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Anahita Temple in Kangavar from Selucid or Parthian times |
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| Parthian
Dynasty |
163 BCE |
224 CE |
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Fought and kept Romans in check for 300 years |
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Developed larger, stronger horses mounted w/ armor and
archers |
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Defeated Mark Anthony and killed 35,000 Romans in
Azerbaijan |
36 BCE |
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Fostered development of Persian miniature painting |
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Takht-e Soleiman (Solomon's
Throne) used as Zoroastrian fire alter |
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| Sassanian
Dynasty |
208 CE |
637 CE |
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Renaissance of Persian culture |
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Dome and vault used later in Islamic architecture
developed |
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Takht-e Soleiman (Solomon's
Throne) used as Zoroastrian fire alter |
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Ruins on hill of Zoroastrian Fire Temple from Sassanian
era outside Isfahan |
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Ardeshir I |
208 CE |
241 CE |
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Defeated Artabanus V (Ardavan), last Parthian king in
hand-to-hand combat |
224 CE |
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Depicted in carvings at Naqsh-e
Rostam receiving crown from Ahura Mazda |
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(Artabanus V
and Ahriman, Zoroastrian god of evil, trampled underfoot) |
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Zoroastrianism becomes state religion |
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Shapur I |
241 CE |
272 CE |
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Roman Emperor Valerian taken prisoner at Edessa |
260 CE |
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Carving at Naqsh-e Rostam, w/ Philip the Arab (kneeling) and Valerian |
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Prophet Mani (b. 216) spreads concepts of Manichaeism
(duality of good and evil) |
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Bahram II |
276 CE |
293 CE |
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Depicted in carving at Naqsh-e
Rostam, w/ family and dignitaries |
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Also at Naqsh-e Rostam on horseback in combat |
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Narseh |
293 CE |
302 CE |
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Depicted at Naqsh-e Rostam receiving crown from goddess Anahita |
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Hormizd II |
303 CE |
309 CE |
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Depicted at Naqsh-e Rostam on horseback toppling enemy w/ spear |
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Shapur II |
310 CE |
379 CE |
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Right cave, leaning on sword, at Taq-e
Bostan, Kermanshah |
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Depicted in damaged carving at Naqsh-e
Rostam leaning on sword |
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Shapur III |
383 CE |
388 CE |
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Right cave, leaning on sword, at Taq-e
Bostan, Kermanshah |
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Ardeshir II |
379 CE |
383 CE |
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Depicted receiving crown from Ahura Mazda at Taq-e Bostan in Kermanshah |
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Bahram V |
420 CE |
440 CE |
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Built small palace (or hunting lodge) at Sarvestan (near
Shiraz) |
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Peroz |
457 CE |
484 CE |
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Killed by Hephtalite Huns out of central Asia |
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Khosroe (Khosrow) I |
531 CE |
579 CE |
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Moved capital to Cresiphon in Mesopotamia |
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"Spring of Khosrow," first known Persian
carpet; 90' square |
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Khosroe (Khosrow) II |
590 CE |
628 CE |
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Depicted on horse (Shabdiz) in large grotto at Taq-e Bostan in Kermanshah |
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Renewed empire building; drove into Byzantium in 602;
Jerusalem in 614 |
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Drove into Alexandria and Egypt in 619 |
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Defeat by Byzantium; king abandons Cresiphon; beginning
of end |
626 CE |
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Yazdagird III |
632 CE |
651 CE |
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Battle at Qadisiya (on Euphrates); Gen. Rustam and 80,000
Persians lose |
636 CE |
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Cresiphon falls to Arabs; Yazdagird in retreat |
638 CE |
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Arabs win at Nihavand (near Hamadan) opening passes thru
Zagros to Persia |
642 CE |
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Persians lose at Istakhr (in Fars); 40,000 killed; Arabs
take Persepolis |
648-49 CE |
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| Beginning of
Arab (and Islamic) domination |
651 CE |
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Persian culture led Islamic Empire to golden age of 8th
to 10th centuries |
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Ali, son-in-law of Prophet, becomes caliph in Kufa (near
Basra) |
656 CE |
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Ali assassinated in Kufa; buried in Najaf (now in Iraq) |
661 CE |
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Hussein, 2d son of Ali, challenges Umayyad rulers in
Damascus |
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Hussein, with force of 72, slaughtered by Umayyad army in
Karbala (Iraq) |
680 CE |
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Battle of Karbala beginning of Shi'ism as separate sect
from Sunnis |
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| Abbasid
Dynasty defeats Umayyad; moves capital to Baghdad |
750 CE |
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Abbasid Dynasty much influenced by traditional Persian
culture |
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Greek works translated by Persians into Arabic; also
Persian scientific work |
813 CE |
833 CE |
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Eighth Imam, Reza, died of suspected poisoning (buried in
Mashhad) |
817 CE |
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Muhammad al-Muntazar, 12th or Hidden Imam, goes into
"occultation" |
873 CE |
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| Buyids
(adherents of Shi'ism) march into Baghdad |
945 CE |
1055 |
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Buyids establish Qom as important center of Shi'ism |
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| Ghaznavid
Dynasty (Turkic speaking) |
994 CE |
1030 |
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Persian culture flourishes |
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Ferdowsi (b. 935) writes Shahnameh (Book of Kings); created modern Persian |
985 CE |
1010 |
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Gonbad-e Kavus (167 foot tomb
tower) built 1007 |
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Tomb/tower of Arsalon (10th century Turk, General of Tus)
outside Mashhad |
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| Seljuq Dynasty
(and vizier Nizam al-Mulk (1020-1092) |
1045 |
1092 |
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Toghrul Beg |
1038 |
1063 |
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Alp-Arslan |
1063 |
1072 |
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Mailk Shah |
1072 |
1092 |
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Era of Omar Khayyam (and historical novel Samarkand) |
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Khayyam solved quadratic equation; reformed calendar |
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Seljuqs elevated Sufism as respected part of Sunni Islam |
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Dome of Gonbad-e Khaki (1088) in Friday Mosque in Isfahan |
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Gonbad-e Alavian built in Hamadan
during Seljuq era |
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Gonbad-e Sorkh (Red Tomb) (1147)
built in Maragheh |
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Gonbad-e Kabud (1197) built in
Maragheh |
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Pol-e Shahrestan (12th century,
Seljuq, bridge over river, Zayendeh-rud in Isfahan) |
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West evian of Friday Mosque in Isfahan w/ stalactites;
Seljuq construction |
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North evian of Friday Mosque in Isfahan; Sejuq
construction |
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| Genghis Khan's
Mongol Army captures Khorassan |
1221 |
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Every person in Nishapur beheaded; heads stacked in
pyramids |
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| Hulagu Khan
(grandson of Genghis; d. 1265) subdues all of Persia |
1256 |
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Baghdad captured; caliph put to death; end of Abbasid
Caliphate |
1258 |
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Massacred up to 800,000 in Baghdad |
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Iran becomes an "Ilkhanate," territory of Great
Khan of China |
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Not until mid-20th century did Iran's population reach
pre-Mongol levels |
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Ghazan Khan |
1295 |
1304 |
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Gonbad-e Khafariyeh (1328) built
in Maragheh |
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Mausoleum of Sheikh Safi al-Din (1252-1334) -- important
Sufi center |
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Shaking Minarets (menar-e Jonban); small 14th c. Mongol mosque; near Isfahan |
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| Tamerlane
(Timur the Lame; d. 1405) captures eastern Iran |
1384 |
1405 |
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Remainder falls a few years later; 70,000 killed in sack
of Isfahan |
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| Timurid
Dynasty |
1405 |
1517 |
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Shah Rokh |
1405 |
1447 |
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Flourishing of arts, especially miniature painting |
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Jahan Shah |
1436 |
1467 |
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Mausoleum of Shah Nematollah Vali (d.1431) in Yazd |
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Mir Chakhmaq mosque (1437) in Yazd |
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Blue Mosque (masjed-e Kabud) built in Tabriz in 1465 |
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Khanjor tower (Gonbad-e Khanjour?) -- 15th century; Timurid, near Mashhad |
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South evian ceiling (Timurid; 15th c.) at Friday Mosque
in Isfahan |
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| Safavid
Dynasty |
1502 |
1737 |
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Arg-e Bam (Citadel) built during
Safavid era |
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Shah Ismail |
1501 |
1524 |
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Origins go back to Sufi order centered around Ardabil |
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Shah Ismail declared Shi'ism as the official religion |
1501 |
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Over next 8 years subdued all of Persia; imposed Shi'ism
thru "example, zeal |
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massacre,
pillage and torture." |
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Shah Abbas I |
1588 |
1629 |
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Signed treaty ceding Azerbaijan to Ottoman Turks to
neutralize external threat |
1590 |
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Encouraged contacts and trade w/ Europe; another
"golden age" |
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Abbas furthered secured Shi'ism as state religion |
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Fearing a conspiracy to overthrow his throne, Abbas
murders own son |
1615 |
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Another son suspected of conspiracy is blinded |
1621 |
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Abbas also blinded and imprisoned his 5th son, his father
and two brothers |
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Capital moved to Isfahan, away from Ottomans; massive
rebuilding of city |
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Ali Qapu Palace, small Timurid
palace enlarged by Shah Abbas in Isfahan |
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Si-o-Se pol (Bridge of 33 Arches,
aka Allahverdi Khan Bridge) (c. 1600) |
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Mosque of Sheikh Lotfollah (built, 1602-1619) in Imam
Square, Isfahan |
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Imam Mosque (started in 1611) in Imam Square, Isfahan |
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Mausoleum of Khaje Rabi (built 1617-1622 by Shah Abbas)
near Mashhad |
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Chehel Sotun (40, really 20,
columns) finished 1647 in Isfahan |
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Pol-e Khaju (bridge built in 1650;
24 arches) over river in Isfahan |
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Bagh-e Fin gardens in Kashan,
designed for Shah Abbas (buildings now Qajar) |
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West evian of Friday Mosque in Isfahan; Seljuq
construction; Safavid redecoration |
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Succession of weak and disconnected rulers |
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| Afghan army
invades Khorassan and captures Isfahan; rules eastern Iran |
1722 |
1729 |
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Ashraf Shah (2d ruler) overthrown by Nader Shah |
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| Nader Shah |
1736 |
1747 |
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Briefly restored Tahmasp to Safavid throne before taking
power himself in 1736 |
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Conquered Afghanistan, New Delhi, Bukhara and Khiva
(Jewels from India) |
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Cruel and dictatorial, he was assassinated in 1747 |
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| Karim Khan
(and Zands) establishes rule in Shiraz |
1750 |
1779 |
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Civil wars rip Iran apart along ethnic lines |
1779 |
1795 |
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Last Zand surrenders to Agha Muhammad Khan |
1795 |
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| Qajar Dynasty |
1795 |
1925 |
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Agha Muhammad Khan |
1796 |
1797 |
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In youth, hostage of Zands; castrated and caged |
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Unified Persia under his control; crowned Shah in Tehran
in 1796 |
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Assassinated by own servants |
1797 |
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Fath Ali Shah |
1798 |
1834 |
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Restored Persian elegance and grandeur to the court |
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Portrait painted in large grotto at Taq-e Bostan in Kermanshah |
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Iran loses first war to Russia and Armenia, Georgia and
N. Azerbaijan |
1813 |
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Iran loses second war to Russia and cede southern Caspian
shore |
1828 |
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Muhammad |
1834 |
1848 |
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Qajar king lays claim to Herat in Afghanistan; trounced
by Great Britain |
1838 |
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Mirza Ali Muhammad declares himself Mahdi; creates Bahai
faith |
1844 |
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Bahais considered Shia heresy; deny Muhammad as last
prophet and Koran |
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as the final
revelation; Mirza executed as heretic in 1850 |
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Naser od-Din Shah |
1848 |
1896 |
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Visited Europe several times and started
"modernization" of Iran |
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Tried to reclaim Herat for Iran; Britain forces entry
into Iran w/ Treaty of Paris |
1857 |
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Began selling "concessions" to European
companies |
1890 |
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Religious fatva against tobacco concession sold to Britain |
1891 |
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Shah assassinated in mosque by Muslim objecting to
Western influence |
1896 |
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Muzzaffar ed-Din Shah |
1896 |
1907 |
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Pledged Iranian customs receipts as collateral for
Russian loan |
1900 |
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Shah gives British right to Iranian oil |
1901 |
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Riots; 13,000-20,000 take refuge in British Embassy |
1906 |
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Constitution and inauguration of Majlis,
parliament |
1906 |
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Muhammad Ali Shah |
1907 |
1909 |
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Russian troops defeat protestors at mosque and Majlis; end of parliament |
1908 |
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Sultan Ahmed Shah (corpulent 12 year son of
Muhammad) |
1909 |
1925 |
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W. Morgan Shuster attempts to reorganize Iranian
finances; ousted by Russians |
1911 |
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Shah's cabinet backed by 12,000 Russian troops overthrows
Majlis |
1911 |
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British Admiralty converts to oil; controls much of
southern Iran |
1913 |
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| Pahlavi
Dynasty |
1925 |
1979 |
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Reza Shah |
1925 |
1941 |
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Little known military officer, Reza Khan, seizes power |
1921 |
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In negotiations, clergy rejects republic; agrees to Reza
as Shah |
1925 |
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Declared "Reza Shah" by Majlis |
1925 |
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Forced "westernization" of Iran |
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Country's name changed from "Persia" to
"Iran" |
1935 |
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Various moves against religious authority; wearing of
veil banned in 1935 |
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Shah's troops massacre hundreds of protestors in Imam
Reza Shrine in Mashhad |
1935 |
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Britain and Russia depose Reza; install weak, playboy son
as new Shah |
1941 |
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Muhammad Reza Shah |
1941 |
1979 |
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Muhammad Mossadeq and second constitutional revolution |
1951 |
1953 |
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Shah flees to Rome, but is reinstalled with American CIA
help |
1953 |
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SAVAK (secret police) formed w/ CIA assistance. |
1957 |
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"White Revolution" incenses clergy; Ayatollah
Khomeini is jailed for first time |
1963 |
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Iran accepts U.S. "Status of Forces Agreement,"
immunity for US citizens in Iran |
1964 |
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Khomeini released from jail; promptly resumes criticism
of Shah and SOFA |
1964 |
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Khomeini exiled to Najaf, in Iraq -- continues criticism
w/ leaflets and cassettes |
1964 |
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Shah's grandiose celebration of 2,500 years of empire at
Persepolis |
1971 |
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Nixon arms Iran to counter Soviet influence in region;
Iran buys $4B US arms |
1972 |
1976 |
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Mid-70's 50,000 Americans living in Iran;
"ugly American" incidents protected by SOFA |
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SAVAK increases spying, repression, torture and killing
thru 1970's |
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SAVAK arrests, interrogates and tortures Rafsanjani,
Montazeri and Khamenei |
1974 |
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Economic hardship; inflation; lower oil revenue; spending
on arms; budget deficit |
1975 |
1977 |
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Khomeini's 49-year old son dies suddenly; SAVAK suspected |
1977 |
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Shah's police kill hundreds of protestors in Qom, Tabriz,
elsewhere |
1978 |
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Khomeini's exile moved to Paris; gains access to
international press |
1978 |
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Shah flees Jan 16; Khomeini arrives Feb. 1; Islamic
Revolution begins |
1979 |
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Revolution and Establishment of Islamic Republic |
1979 |
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First seizure of US Embassy: Feb. 14, 1979 -- militants
retreat |
2/14/1979 |
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Seizure of US Embassy: Nov 4, 1979 after Shah admitted to
US for treatment |
11/4/1979 |
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Khomeini used seizure to unify country around adoption of
constitution |
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Saddam Hussein and Iraq invade Iran |
9/22/1980 |
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American hostages released |
1/20/1981 |
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During 1981, Mujahedin assassinates more than 1,000 gov't
officials |
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1985-1986 Iran and US engage in "arms for
hostages" deals |
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July 3, 1988 USS Vincennes shoots down Iran Air 655; 290
die |
7/3/1988 |
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Iran agrees to UN resolution to end war with Iraq;
750,000 Iranians died |
7/18/1988 |
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Khomeini issues fatva against Salman Rushdie |
2/14/1989 |
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Ayatollah Khomeini dies; Khamenei becomes new Supreme
Leader |
6/4/1989 |
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