Iran is a large country in the Middle East, with a long and complex history dating back to 8000 BC. It has been ruled by various empires, including the Persian Empire, and was eventually reshaped as an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Khomeini. Despite tensions with the West, much of Iran is safe for travelers, with ancient ruins, museums, and outdoor activities to enjoy. Flights and overland travel are available from neighboring countries.
Iran is a huge country in the Middle East. It covers 636,400 square miles (1,648,200 square km), making it somewhat smaller than the state of Alaska. It borders Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Pakistan and has coastlines along the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf.
People began settling the region as early as 8000 BC, with fairly sophisticated civilizations springing up around 6000 BC. In 3000 BC, the extensive Elamite empire formed in the region, about which relatively little is known. Between 3000 and 2000 BC the Aryans forced their way from the north and settled in what is now Iran.
In the 8th century BC the Medes formed the Iranian Empire, setting the stage for the country as a unified and powerful nation. In the 6th century BC Cyrus the Great formed the Persian Empire, unifying the region, substantially strengthening it and expanding its borders. King Darius led the Persian Empire through what was probably its greatest period of growth in the 5th century, introducing standardized coins to the world, creating an impressive road system, building a canal to connect the Nile with the Red Sea, and expanding the Empire to become the great superpower of the era.
The Persian Empire was briefly conquered by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC It quickly reasserted itself, however, with the later Parthian Empire dominating much of the world. Over the next five centuries Parthia would keep the Romans at bay while expanding their territory. In the 3rd century a new empire arose in Iran, the Sassanid Empire. At the height of the Sasanian empire’s power, it had conquered Egypt, Palestine, Iraq, Jordan, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Armenia and parts of the Caucasus, Pakistan, Turkey and Syria.
The Sassanid Empire seemed virtually unstoppable, but in the mid-7th century, after a crushing defeat at the hands of the Arabs, the empire collapsed. The Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates ruled the country for the next 7 years, suppressing the Persian revolts and eventually converting most of the nation to Islam. Eventually the Persians retook Iran, driving out the Caliphate.
For the next few centuries the country was mostly in the hands of smaller dynasties, never truly achieving the same unity it had held during the Sassanid Empire. In the early 13th century, Genghis Khan arrived, plundering much of Iran and massacring a huge portion of the population. The Mongols maintained control during the 13th and 14th centuries, continuing to plunder and oppress the people.
In the 16th century, nearly a millennium after the last true Persian emperor controlled Iran, the Safavid dynasty arose. The Safavid dynasty put in place many of the institutions that define contemporary Iran. This dynasty was responsible for fighting the Ottoman Empire, ousting some European powers from regional control of parts of the Persian Gulf and essentially opening up trade with the West.
The country transitioned to a constitutional monarchy in the early 20th century under the Shah of the Qajar dynasty. The British moved in following the discovery of oil soon after, and Russia exerted power in other parts of the country. During World War II the Shah was forced to abdicate his son by the allied forces and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi ruled the country until the 20th.
Protest against the Shah’s rule began to grow in the country. The government was seen as restricting personal freedoms, and the Internal Security Service was known to be responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Iranians. The country’s religious clergy were also unhappy with the Shah’s reforms. In 1979 the Shah was forced to abdicate, and soon after Ayatollah Khomeini took power, reshaping Iran as an Islamic republic.
Its previously positive image in the West changed abruptly with the taking of 52 American hostages at a US embassy in Tehran. The government’s position vis-à-vis the West also changed drastically over the next two decades. Soon after the Islamic Republic was proclaimed, Iraq invaded Iran and was engaged in costly and deadly warfare for the next eight years. Tensions with the West continued to grow.
Western preconceptions aside, most of Iran is quite safe for travellers. The borders of Iraq and Afghanistan are very hostile, but Tehran and most of the countryside are safe as long as you respect local laws and act with courtesy. Ancient archaeological ruins, such as Choqa Zanbil with its immense ziggurat, or Persepolis, Jamshid’s enormous palace, are some of the highlights of the country. The beautiful city of Shiraz is another excellent attraction, as is the mountain village of Masulé. One can find museums all over the country, detailing the long and glorious history of the Persian Empire, and there is skiing and mountaineering as well.
Flights arrive daily in Tehran from most European and Asian cities, and Americans can get there via any of these hubs. Travelers can also arrive overland from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkmenistan.
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