History of Iran

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

This course will cover the breadth of Iran’s social and cultural history from the Persian Empires of antiquity to the modern Islamic Republic. We will read a wide range of works from Iran’s impressive literary heritage in this class, including Zoroastrian and Islamic religious texts, mystical Persian poetry, and diplomatic, foreign policy, and business archives as we explore central themes in Iran’s history. Situated at the crossroads of Eurasia, Iranian societies have always been closely connected to broader global patterns. We will explore how diverse influences from Arab-Islamic invaders, to the Mongols, to European imperial powers have fused over the centuries to create a distinctly Iranian identity. We will also explore the influence of major social movements in Iran, including two major revolutions in the twentieth century – one of which brought to power the current Islamic Republic. This course will allow us to bring Iran’s modern politics into greater focus as communities of reformists, feminists, environmental activists, and artists are challenging Iran’s Islamic Republic on grounds of its authenticity in reflecting the diversity of Iranian society and long-held values surrounding human rights and dignity.