Transcript Slide 1

Iran
Chapter 18, Section 4
TB 450-453
6th Social Studies
Mrs. Coldiron
Persian Empire
• Ruled the region around present day Iran.
•Center of art and learning
•Known for its spectacular paintings, carpets,
metalwork, and architecture.
•The empire was conquered by Muslim empires.
•Persian were converted to Islam
•Beautiful mosques with color tiles and large
domes were built
The Shah
•In 1921, an Iranian military officer
took over Iran’s government.
•He claimed to be the old Persian title
of shah, or king
•The shah became an ally of the
United States and Great Britain
•Tried to modernize Iran
•This attempt to modernize Iran was
unpopular with many Iranian.
THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION
THE SHAH OF IRAN
•RULED IRAN OVER 20 YEARS
•FRIEND OF THE US
•WESTERNIZED IRAN
•BECAME UNPOPULAR –
MOST IRANIANS ARE MUSLIMS – SOUGHT AN ISLAMIC-BASED SOCIETY
1979 – THE
SHAH IS
OVERTHROWN
THUS BEGAN
THE IRANIAN
REVOLUTION
NEW LEADER COMES TO POWERHIS NAME - AYATOLLAH KHOMEINI
Islamic Revolution
•In 1978, Iranian began a revolution
•Within a year Iranians overthrew the shah
•Set up an Islamic republic – following a strict Islamic
law
•Relations with the United States broke down
•A group of students attacked the
U.S. Embassy in Tehran
(Iran’s captial)
•Took 50 Americans hostage
holding them captive for over a
year
Iran Today
•More than half of all Iranians are Persian
•Speak Farsi, the Persian language.
•Iran has a population of 68 million
•Over 35 million Iranians are younger than 25 years old.
•Ethnically diverse – Persians, Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Arabs,
and Turks
•Most Iranians are Shia Muslims (10 % are Sunni
Mulsims)
•The rest of Iran’s people practice Christianity, Judaism
and other religions.
Economy and Government
•Huge oil reserves make Iran a wealthy
country
•Production of carpets also contributes to
Iran’s economy
•Iran’s government is a known as a
theocracy- a government ruled by religious
leaders.
•Ayatollahs, supreme leaders, are Iran’s
religious leaders
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
•Iranian president
•Elected in 2005
•Wants Iranians to
follow strict Islamic law
A Threat to World Security
Hard-Line Policies
•Iran has called for the destruction
of Israel
•Supported terrorist groups in
other countries
•Development of nuclear weapons
•The United States and other
nations see Iran’s nuclear program
as a threat to world security.
Assignment
Section 4 Assessment
TB 453
1-3