Impirātūrī-yi Īrān ( tārīkh-i Īrān): Persian 1402

Although Iran is often maligned, it is a country with great intellectual diversity and depth and one of the oldest continuous civilizations in the world. Its political influence has been enormous, not only on its neighbors in the Middle East but throughout the world. From the time of the prophet Zoroaster to the powerful empires of ancient Iran, to the 1979 revolution, the hostage crisis, and the current impasse over Iran's nuclear ambitions, Michael Axworthy vividly narrates the country's rich history. He clearly and meticulously explains both the complex succession of dynasties that ruled ancient Iran and the astonishing ethnic diversity of the modern country, held together by a common culture. While Iran is once again in the spotlight, Iran's history is an essential guide to understanding this volatile nation. It is stated in a part of the book: "In its various historical stages, Iran has truly been an empire of thought, and in a sense it still is, Iranian culture has held together a diverse nation in terms of ethnicity and time. Iran is now ready to play a bigger role than it has had for years in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the region. But is Iran the empire of the future? In other words, can Iran assume the important and influential role it deserves in the Middle East and the wider world?"