Iran History

Iran Wiki Topics

Iran Beginning Research

Getting Started Online Learning Record Finder Research Strategies Finding Town of Origin

Record Types

Cemeteries Census Church Records Civil Registration Colonial Records Compiled Genealogies Emigration & Immigration Newspapers Online Genealogy Records Religious Records Tribes and Clans

Iran Background

Biographies Gazetteers History Languages Maps Naming Customs Periodicals Social Life & Customs

Iran Genealogical Word Lists

Farsi (Persian)

Local Research Resources

Archives & Libraries Societies Local FamilySearch Center

In other languages: فارسی

Middle East

Iran

History

General History

Iran, historically known as Persia, is one of the world's oldest continuous major civilizations, with settlements dating back to 4000 BC. The Medes unified Iran as a nation and empire in 625 BC, and the Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC, became one of the largest empires in history. Under Darius I, the Achaemenid Empire encompassed the Balkans and Eastern Europe in the west to the Indus Valley in the east, and from the Caucasus and Central Asia in the north to Egypt and Libya in the south.

In the medieval period, Iran experienced significant cultural and scientific achievements, particularly during the Islamic Golden Age. The Safavid dynasty, established in 1501, marked a turning point by making Shia Islam the state religion, which has had a lasting impact on Iranian identity. This era also saw Iran becoming a major center of art, architecture, and philosophy. During the Ottoman period, Iran and the Ottoman Empire were often in conflict, particularly over control of territories in the Caucasus and Mesopotamia

Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, Iran experienced significant waves of emigration to the United States, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom due to political and economic factors, particularly among educated professionals. The 1979 Iranian Revolution transformed the country from a monarchy into an Islamic republic, leading to profound political, social, and economic shifts. Today, Iran continues to play a crucial role in regional and global affairs, balancing its rich cultural heritage with contemporary challenges.

Timeline

• 4000 BC Early settlements in Iran.
• 625 BC The Medes unify Iran as a nation and empire.
• 550 BC Cyrus the Great founds the Achaemenid Empire, one of the largest empires in history.
• 1501 The Safavid dynasty is established, making Shia Islam the state religion and turning Iran into a major center of art, architecture, and philosophy.
• 16th-17th centuries Iran and the Ottoman Empire frequently conflict over territories in the Caucasus and Mesopotamia.
• 1722 The fall of the Safavid Empire due to internal strife and external pressures.
• 1796 The Qajar dynasty is established by Agha Mohammad Khan, who reunites Persia and makes Tehran the capital.
• 1925 The last Qajar ruler was overthrown by Reza Khan and established the Pahlavi dynasty. This transition marked a significant shift in Iran's political landscape, leading to further modernization and centralization efforts under the new regime.
• 20th-21st centuries Significant waves of emigration to the United States, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom due to political and economic factors.
• 1979 The Iranian Revolution, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, transforms Iran from a monarchy into an Islamic republic, leading to significant political, social, and economic changes.

Resources

Online Resources

• Tārīkh al-duwal wa-al-imārāt al-Kurdīyah fī al-ʻahd al-Islāmī by Zakī, Muḥammad Amīn. Miṣr:Maṭbaʻat al-Saʻādah, 1945. Online at: New York University; History of Kurdish states.
  • .تاريخ الدول والإمارات الكردية في العهد الإسلامي .محمد أمين زكي النشر: مصر:مطبعة السعادة،, ‪1945