Iran, Cool Facts #198

<= 197. Vietnam 

1. Flag of Iran  

Old Flag 
World's oldest metal flag was found at Shahdad. A major Bronze Age discovery was made in 1968 and the bronze flag is dated to about 2400BC. The flag features a seated man and a kneeling woman facing each other and a star between them. 

Shahdad standard

Current FlagThe current flag of Iran has been in use since 1980. The flag was changed as a reflection of the changes brought by the Iranian Revolution in 1979, which established the theocratic Islamic republic. 

Symbolism: 

Emblem
The emblem is a highly stylized composite of various Islamic elements. There's a geometrically symmetric form of the word Allah (God) and overlapping parts of the phrase "la 'ilaha 'illa l-Lah" (There is no other Dod except Allah), forming a monogram in the form of a tulip. The tulip shape memorialises those who have died for Iran, so it symbolises the values of patriotism and self-sacrifice. The five elements in the emblem also refer to the five muslim pillars, which are faith, prayer, charity, fasting and pilgrimage to Mecca. 

Emblem of Iran

Kufic script 
The phrase Allahu Akbar (Allah is the greatest) is repeated 22 times in the ornamental kufic script. The amount of the phrases refers to the day 22 Bahman 1357 or 11th February, 1979, the day when the national radio of Iran broadcast: "From Teheran, the voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran" and marked the unofficial beginning of the Islamic Republic. The official day is 2 May. 

Green stripe

In the Iranian culture green symbolizes happiness, nature, growth, vitality and the Persian language. 

White stripe 
White symbolizes freedom, because white is blank and it's free to hold anything on it.

Red stripe

Red symbolizes martyrdom and in the Iranian culture it also symbolizes bravery, fire, love, warmth and sophistication.

Kimia Alizade with the Irani flag during Olympic Games 2016 after winning bronze in taekwondo

2. Achaemenid Empire 550BC-330BC

Greatest percentage of world population 44%
Achaemenid Empire is said to have ruled the greatest percentage of the global population. In 440BC Achaemenid Empire ruled 49,4 million people of the global population of 112,4 million. So the Achaemenid Empire ruled 44% of the world's population.  

10 Facts about Achaemenid Empire 

1. Achaemenid Empire is also called the First Persian Empire 
2. With a maximum territory of 5,5 million square km it was larger than any previous empire in history 
3. Achaemenid Empire had a successful model of centralized administration, building infrastructure such as road systems and a postal system, use of an official language, the development of civil services and a large professional army
4. The empire's success in the creation of their systems inspired similar systems in later empires 
5. Achaemenid Empire was a rival of the Greek city-states during the several Greco-Persian Wars
6. Darius the Great built the Royal Road, a 2500km long highway, which facilitated rapid communication throughout his large empire from Susa to Sardis 
7. Chapar Khanehs were royal stations along the Royal Road
8. Cyrus the Great founded the empire in 550BC 
9. In the Bible, Cyrus the Great is said to have liberated the Hebrew captives in Bablyon to resettle and rebuild Jerusalem, earning him an honored place in Judaism 
10. Alexander the Great, an ardent admirer of Cyrus the Great, conquered most of the Achaemenid Empire by 330BC 

Achaemenid Empire at its greatest extent under the rule of Darius I (522BC-486BC)

The expansion of the Achaemenid Empire

Tomb of Cyrus the Great in Pasargadae

3. Shia Islam in Iran 

Shia Islam in modern world
Iran is the only country where Shia Islam is the official state religion. About 90-95% of the population in Iran adhere to Shia Islam. Also Bahrain, Azerbaijan and Iraq have a Shia majority population. Most of the Muslim countries are Sunni majority countries, but some of these have also a considerable Shia population. Yemen, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Pakistan, India, Turkey, Afghanistan, Qatar and UAE all have more than 10% of Shia Muslims in their population. 

Shia and Sunni percentages in Middle East

Safavid conversion of Iran to Shia Islam
Safavid dynasty was founded by Shah Ismail I. The Safavid Empire is considered as the beginning of modern Iranian history and it ruled from 1501 to 1736. One of the most important events in Muslim history is the conversion of Iran to Shia Islam. Shah Ismail I established Twelver School of Shia Islam as the official religion of the empire.

Reasons for Ismail's conversion 

1. To give Iran and the Safavid lands a unique identity compared to Sunni Ottoman Empire or Central Asian Uzbeks 
2. Constant struggle against the Sunni Ottoman Empire motivated the Safavids to create a more cohesive Iranian identity to counter the Ottoman threat
3. The conversion was also part of building a territory that would be loyal to the state and its institutions, enabling them to propagate their rule throughout the whole territory 

Methods of converting Iran 

1. Ismail I imposed Shiism as the state and mandatory religion for the whole nation 
2. Forced conversions of Iranian Sufi Sunnis to Shiism 
3. Sadr, an office responsible for supervising religious institutions and endowments was established 
4. The Sadr were also assigned the task of disseminating Twelver doctrine 
5. Ismail I destroyed Sunni mosques
6. Ismail I used state patronage to develop Shia shrines, insitutions and religious art 
7. Ismail I imported Shia scholars to replace Sunni scholars 
8. During the Safavid rule there was a holiday on 26 Dhu al-Hijjah, celebrating the murder of Caliph Umar 

Historical outcome of Ismail's conversion 

1. Vast majority living in the present-day Iran and Azerbaijan identified with Shiism by the end of the Safavid rule in 1722
2. Hostility between Twelver Shiism and Sunnism started in the Safavid Empire 
3. End of Sunni Islam in Iran 
4. Hierarchical organization of the Shiite clergy began under Ismail 
5. The borders of Iran and Afghanistan and Turkey date from this time and they are not ethnic but religious, opposing Shiites and Sunnis 
6. The Sunni majority resisted the brutal Safavid conversion policies, which went on at least until the end of the Safavid period 
7. Centuries of conflict between the Sunni and Shia populations, even after the fall of the Safavids 
8. Modern Iranian historians agree that the establishment of Shia religious hegemony ultimately saved Iran from being incorporated into the Ottoman Empire 
9. The Ottoman advance in Europe suffered as the the Safavids allied with European powers to combat their common Ottoman enemy

Ismail declares himself shah by entering Tabriz in 1501

4. Oil and Foreign Powers in Iran 

Oil discovery in Iran 
In 1908 oil was discovered in southwestern Iran. British Anglo-Persian Oil Company (currently British Petroleum), got the exclusive rights to the Persian oil fields. The country was divided into Russian and British sphere of influence, although it remained officially independent. 

Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran 
The Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran occurred in 1941 during World War II. Soviet, British and other Commonwealth forces invaded the Empire of Iran under the codename Operation Countenance. The invasion lasted from 25 August to 17 September. The purpose of the invasion was to secure the Iranian oil fields and ensure Allied supply lines for the Soviet Union, which was fighting against Axis forces on the Eastern Front. Iran was neutral in the war, but the Allies considered Reza Shah to be friendly to the Axis powers so they deposed him and replaced Reza Shah with his young son Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. The Soviet troops withdrew from Iran in 1946 after receiving a promise of oil concessions, which were later revoked.

Mohammed Mossadegh 

In 1951 Mohammed Mossadegh was appointed as the Prime Minister. Mossadegh became enormously popular after nationalizing Iran's petroleum industry and oil deposits. This was the reason why Mossadegh was deposed in 1953 in the coup, orchestrated by UK and USA. The successful coup marked the first time USA overthrew a foreign government during the Cold War. The Shah was restored to power after the coup, UK made a new oil contract and USA made a defense agreement with Iran.

British supply convoy with Soviet escorts in Iran, September 1941

Spheres of influence in Iran 1946

5. Iranian Revolution of 1979 

Autocratic Shah 
After the coup in 1953 Mohammed Mosaddekh was deposed from power by USA and UK. The Shah became increasingly autocratic and sultanistic after the coup. Iran also entered a period of decades long close relationship with USA and some other foreign governments. The Shah modernized Iran and claimed to retain it fully secular, but at the same time arbitrary arrests and torture was conducted by the Shah's secret police SAVAK to crush all forms of political opposition. 

Ruhollah Khomeini 
Khomeini was a radical Muslim cleric, who actively criticized the Shah's far-reaching series of reforms known as the White Revolution. Khomeini publicly condemned the government and because of it he was arrested and imprisoned for 18 months. In 1964 Khomeini was sent into exile after his 18-month prison sentence, because he refused to apologize.

Growing resistance against the Shah
In 1973 spike in oil prices flooded Iran with foreign currency and caused inflation. In 1975-1976 the economic recession led to increased unemployment and the opposition against the Shah started growing. Unemployment increased especially among the youth who had migrated to the cities of Iran for construction jobs during the boom years of the early 1970s. By the late 1970s many of these people opposed the Shah's regime and started to organize and join protests against the Shah.

Revolution in 1979

The Islamic Revolution started already in January 1978 with the major demonstrations against the Shah. After a year of strikes and demonstrations paralyzing the country and its economy, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi fled the country and Ruhollah Khomeini returned from exile. Khomeini arrived to Teheran in February 1979 to form a new government. After holding a referendum, Iran officially became an Islamic Republic in April 1979. A second referendum in December 1979 approved a theocratic constitution. 

Post-revolution events
Immediate nationwide uprisings against the new government began, including the 1979 Kurdish rebellion, the Khuzestan uprisings, Sistan and Baluchestan uprisings among others. The uprisings were violently suppressed in the following years. The new government also started purging itself of the non-Islamist political opposition as well as those Islamists who weren't considered radical enough. A group of Muslim students seized the US Embassy and took the embassy with 52 personnel and citizens hostage, because USA refused to return Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to Iran to face trial in the court of the new government and a probable execution. After two years the hostages were finally set free as a result of the Algiers Accord. 

Islamic Revolution in 1979

Men holding Ayatollah Khomeini's pictures

Timeline

2700BC Elam Kingdom emerged
678BC The Median Empire was established and by 612BC it controlled almost the entire territory of present-day Iran and eastern Anatolia
550BC The Achaemenid Empire was established, when Cyrus the Great took over the Median Empire
539BC The Persian forces defeated the Babylonian army marking the end of around four centuries of Mesopotamian domination of the region by the conquest of the Neo-Babylonian Empire
334BC Alexander the Great invaded the Achaemenid Empire and defeated the last emperor Darius III, after the premature death of Alexander Iran came under the control of the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire
247BC The Parthian Empire was established and the century long arch-rivalry between the Romans and Parthians began
224 The Sasanian Empire was established and together with their neighboring arch-rival, the Roman-Byzantines, they were the world's two most dominant powers for four centuries
600s Arab invasion of Iran, the Sasanian Empire was defeated by the Rashidun Caliphate
750 Abbasid Caliphate replaced the Umayyad Caliphate
900s-1000s The Islamic Golden Age reached its peak, during which Iran was the main theater of scientific activities
934 The Buyid Empire was established
999 Large portions of Iran came briefly under the control of the Ghaznavid Empire
1219-1221 Under the Khwarezmian Empire, Iran suffered a devastating invasion by the Mongol army of Genghis Khan
1256 Hulagu Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, established the Ilkhanate in Iran after the fragmentation of the Mongol Empire
1370 Timur, following the example of Hulagu, established the Timurid Empire, which ruled Iran for the next 156 years
1387 Timur ordered the complete massacre of Isfahan, killing about 70,000 people
1501 The Safavid Empire was established by Ismail I of Ardabil who also converted the population into Shia Islam
1587-1629 The Safavid era had its peak during the reign of Abbas I, surpassing their arch-rivals the Ottoman Empire in strength, art and science
1600s-1700s Decline of the Safavid Empire caused by internal conflicts, continuos wars with the Ottomans and the Russian interference
1722 Safavid rule was ended by the Pashtun rebels
1729 Nader Shah successfully drove out and conquered the Pashtun invaders
1750 Karim Khan of the Zand dynasty came to power after a brief period of civil war and turmoil followed by the assassination of Nader Shah in 1747
1779 Another civil war ensued after the death of Karim Khan
1794 Agha Mohammed Khan founded the ruling Qayar dynasty
1795 The Qajars captured Tbilisi and drove the Russians out of the entire Caucasus 

1804-1813 and 1826-1828 Russo-Iranian wars resulted in territorial losses for Iran in Caucasus
1870-1871 Great Famine caused the death of 1,5 million people, about 20-25% of the total population
1905 Constitutional Revolution 

1906 The first Iranian constitution and national parliament were founded
1908 Oil deposits were found and the British Anglo-Persian Oil Company got the exclusive rights for the Iranian oil fields

1909 Mohammed Ali Shah was defeated and forced to abdicate

1911 Russians occupied northern Iran and maintained a military presence in the region for some time
1921 The British withdrew from western Iran, which they had occupied during the World War I
1921 Military coup led by Reza Khan Pahlavi overthrew the last Qajar ruler by the help of the British
1925 Reza Khan Pahlavi was declared the new monarch establishing the Pahlavi dynasty
1935 The name of the country was changed from Persia to Iran
1941 Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran, Reza Khan Pahlavi was forced to abdicate in favor of his son Mohammed Reza Pahlavi 

1946 The Soviet troops withdrew from Iran after receiving a promise of oil concessions, but they were later revoked
1951 Mohammed Mossadegh became the Prime Minister and he became enormously popular after nationalizing Iran's petroleum industry and oil deposits
1953 Mossadegh was overthrown by USA and Shah was brought back to power
1964 Ruhollah Khomeini was sent into exile after his 18-month prison sentence
1973 Spike in oil prices flooded Iran with foreign currency and caused inflation
1975-1976 Economic recession led to increased unemployment and the opposition against the Shah started growing
1979 Islamic Revolution forced the Shah flee Iran and Ruhollah Khomeini to return from exile to form a new government
1979 After first referendum Iran became an Islamic republic in April and after the second referendum a theocratic constitution was approved
1979 Nationawide uprisings against the new government began with the Kurdistan rebellion and uprisings of Khuzestan, Sistan, Baluchistan and other areas
1979 A group of Muslims seized the US embassy with the personnel of 52 and 14 citizens for two years, because USA refused to return Mohammed Reza Pahlavi to Iran to face trial in the court
1980 Cultural Revolution started in Iran with an initial closure of universities for three years to perform inspection and cleanup in the cultural policy of the education and training system
1980 Saddam Hussein of Iraq invaded Khuzestan and started the Iran-Iraq War
1982 Iran managed to drive the Iraqi army from Iran and then Iran invaded Iraq
1988 The war ended when the Iraqi army defeated the Iranian forces inside Iraq pushing the remaining Iranian troops back across the border
1989 Ayatalloha Khomeini died and President Ali Khamenei was chosen as his successor 

1997 Reformist Mohammad Khatami's government unsuccessfully tried to make the country more free and democratic
2005 Mahmud Ahmadinejad won the presidential elections and was re-elected in 2009
2009 After Ahmadinejad's re-election there were large-scale protests, which were violently suppressed 

Sources: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran
"Maailman maat - liput ja historia" by Kimmo Kiljunen