Transcript Iran Revolution
East vs. West The Iran Revolution
Patten & Valdner Global History II Mepham High School
Iran
Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi Iran » Iranian nationalist who attempted to modernize and westernize Iran.
» Allows capitalism » Developed Iran’s oil industry » Repressed civil rights.
» Supported by US
A Divided Iran » Upper Classes » Wealthy » Urban » Westernized » Secular » Minority of the population » Lower Classes » Poor » Rural » Traditional » Very Religious » Majority of the population
Ayatollah Khomeini Iran » Fundamentalist cleric he led the 1979 Iranian Revolution. » Under his leadership America was known as “the great satan”.
Fundamentalist » A fundamentalist is a believer in traditional religious beliefs. Often fundamentalists oppose modern reforms in favor of returning to traditional beliefs.
Ayatollah Khomeini » Overthrows the Shah » Religious man who wants Iran to be a religious state (Islamic Fundamentalist) » Leads the Iranian Revolution » Iran becomes a strict Muslim state
The Iranian Revolution 1979 » Causes » Shah Pahlavi was westernizing Iran » Religious people were unhappy » Khomeini will gain support of the Islamic Fundamentalists
American Hostages
The Iranian Revolution 1979 » Effects » Khomeini takes power in 1979 » The Shah flees Iran; helped by U.S.A.
» 53 Americans are taken hostage at the US embassy until 1981
The Iranian Revolution 1979 » Effects » Iran becomes a theocracy » Iran becomes a strict Muslim State; laws in Iran are based in the Koran (Quran) » Women lost all rights and privileges. Government bans western books.