Persepolis Mrs. Cunningham

Reza Khan – Pahlavi Dynasty 1921 C.E. : Reza Khan, an officer in the army, staged a coup. Initially the minister of war and then the prime minister, in 1925 Reza Khan decided to become the Shah himself. Although Reza Khan’s initial objective was to become the president of a republic, the clergy, fearing a diminished role in a republic, persuaded him to become the Shah.

Events under Reza Shah first priority was to strengthen the authority of the central government by creating a disciplined standing army and restraining the autonomy of the tribal chiefs. series of modernizing and secular reforms, some of which were designed specifically to break the power of the clergy over Iran’s educational and judicial systems. provided public education, built Iran’s first modern university, opened the schools to women and brought them into the work force. initiated Iran’s first industrialization program and dramatically improved Iran’s infrastructure by building numerous roads, bridges, state-owned factories and Iran’s first Transnational railway. In 1935, he officially requested all foreign governments to no longer refer to Iran as Persia, but as Iran. (The Iranian people themselves had always referred to their country as Iran.) forcibly abolished the wearing of the veil, took away the effective power of the Majles and did not permit any forms of free speech. With the outbreak of WW II, Reza Shah, wanting to remain neutral, refused to side with the Allies

Reza Shah exiled 1941 C.E. - In need of the Trans- Iranian railway to supply the Soviets with wartime materials, the Allies invaded and occupied Iran for the duration of the war. Reza Shah was forced to abdicate in favor of his son Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and died in South Africa in exile in 1944.

Mohammed Mossadegh 1951-1953 C.E. - Iran’s Majles passed a law sponsored by the nationalistic (soon to be prime minister) Dr. Mossadeq to nationalize Iran’s oil from British control. The British froze all of Iran’s Sterling assets and took their case to the International Court of Justice. The Court ruled in Iran’s favor. Undeterred, the British placed a total trade embargo on Iran and enforced it with their navy, leading to the collapse of Iran’s economy. Citing the threat of a communist takeover, British Intelligence and the CIA sponsored a coup to topple Dr. Mossadeq’s government. In the midst of the coup, the young Shah, having thought the plan had failed, left the country. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Mossadeq’s government was overthrown and the Shah was put back in power.

White Revolution 1962-1963 C.E. - The Shah introduced his White Revolution. It consisted of major land reform, workers’ rights and women’s suffrage, among other initiatives. His reforms did not develop as planned due to poor execution. In a series of public speeches, Ayatollah Khomeini attacked these reforms.

Rapid Economic Growth 1963-1973 C.E. - Iran experienced rapid economic growth and prosperity coupled with a relatively stable political climate. Iran’s infrastructure, public health and educational institutions were expanded. A number of highways, roads, bridges, railroad tracks, water and sewage projects, factories, schools, universities and hospitals were built. Iran’s military strength grew and its international prestige was enhanced.

Oil Embargo  1973-1979 C.E. - The oil embargo quadrupled Iran’s oil revenue to $20 billion a year. This new wealth accelerated the Shah’s timetable to make Iran “catch up” with the West. The Shah’s determination to modernize Iran virtually overnight and at any cost led to cultural shock, alienation of the masses, inflation, corruption, massive urbanization, rising expectations and increasing authoritarianism in dealing with these social, economic and political problems. By the late 1970s, the Shah’s opponents, of all political affiliations, united behind Ayatollah Khomeini. The Shah was overthrown in 1979 by the Islamic Revolution and died in Egypt a year later. Unfortunately, the Pahlavi Dynasty’s nationalistic efforts were halted, undermined, and greatly reversed with the second Islamic invasion and the formation of an Islamic Republic based on the Arab-Islam ideology and cult.

New Theocratic Republic After 2500 years of monarchy, Iran’s government was changed to a theocratic republic, The Islamic Republic of Iran (at times referred to as the “Second Arab invasion”). Theocratic Government: a form of government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the God’s or deity’s laws  being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities. 1979 Islamic Revolution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s5pRsCWW9k

Alliance 1946 C.E. - An alliance between Iran and its neighbors created a great wall against Soviet expansion and under American pressure, the Soviet Union was forced to pull out of Iran’s northwestern province. It was the first and only time that Stalin gave back a WWII occupied territory.

Timeline Clip http://www.filmeducation.org/persepolis/timeline-of- events.html