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Understanding the Historical context of persepolis hysterically . Class? Yes? Teach—OK!. Iran’s Establishment. In the 2 nd millenium BC, semi-nomadic Indo-European invaders settled on they called “ Ayryana Vaejo .” The 2 nd millenium BC was a really, really, really long time ago.
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Understanding the Historical context of persepolishysterically Class? Yes? Teach—OK!
Iran’s Establishment • In the 2ndmillenium BC, semi-nomadic Indo-European invaders settled on they called “AyryanaVaejo.” • The 2ndmillenium BC was a really, really, really long time ago. • Semi-nomadic means they traveled often—not for fun, but for food—and planted crops at an established location • The name changed through the centuries, it was known as Persia and then Iran in 1935
Iran was RICH • And, like most rich countries, it got invaded ALL the time by EVERYONE including: • Alexander the Great of Macedonia • From the west: Arabs (horses, yes. cowboys, no) • From the northwest: Turkey (gobble, gobble!) • From the northeast: Mongolia (how much for the yak?) • Foreign domination could NOT squelch the Persian culture and the invaders acclimated to it as they sapped its resources (Kojadastshoo'e?)
Oil: good. Invasions: bad. • The discovery of oil led to more interest in Iran by more modernized, Western countries in the 20th century. Of course… • Reza Shah, the ruler during WWII made the ill-advised decision to sympathize with the Germans and declared Iran a neutral zone. So, it was invaded by everyone BUT the Germans.Khoda-hafez, Reza Shah! • Reza Shah’s son succeeded him and set a precedent for rockstars and athletes for years to come by becoming known simply as the Shah. Salam, Madonna! Salam, Prince! Salam, Shack!
From Oil to Islam • “Not so fast, Mohammed Mossadeq!” said Great Britain in 1951 when the then prime minister nationalized the oil industry. “That doesn’t help us AT ALL!” • And they went at told their friends, the CIA, who organized a coup to overthrow him. • Re-enter, The Shah. Salam, The Shah! • 26 years later, The Shah was driven out by the Islamic Revolution, much to the dismay of the CIA who claimed in 1978 that Iran was no where near a revolution. “When we said ‘not near’, we meant ‘totally’ near.”
What Does it Mean to Be “Islamic” in Iran in 1980? • It means hijab for women: modest dress and always a veil. • It means men and women, boys and girls, were no longer allowed to socialize. • It means western culture and capitalism were renounced. Khoda-hafez, Cher! • It means you’ll be tortured if you oppose by the Revolutionary Guards. • It means the rest of the world begins to associate Islam with terror and brutality. This is, is the reason for the book.