IranIran

Religious Revivalism and Religious Revivalism and

the Rejection of the Westthe Rejection of the West

Qajar dynastyQajar dynasty

Replaced Zand dynasty in 1794Replaced Zand dynasty in 1794

Turkmen tribe unified Iran under Turkmen tribe unified Iran under Agha Mohammad Khan Agha Mohammad Khan

Introduced Western science, Introduced Western science, technology, and educational methodstechnology, and educational methods

Qajar dynastyQajar dynastyNaser o-Din ShahNaser o-Din Shah

1848 - 18961848 - 1896

Mozaffar o-Din Shah 1896-1907

Constitutional RevolutionConstitutional Revolution19061906

Strict limitations on royal powerStrict limitations on royal power MajlesMajles (elected parliament) with wide (elected parliament) with wide

powers to represent the peoplepowers to represent the people Government featuring a cabinet Government featuring a cabinet

subject to confirmation by the Majlessubject to confirmation by the Majles The Supplementary Fundamental Laws The Supplementary Fundamental Laws

approved in 1907 provided, within approved in 1907 provided, within limits, for freedom of press, speech, limits, for freedom of press, speech, and association, and for security of life and association, and for security of life and property. and property.

Britain and Russia agreed to divide Britain and Russia agreed to divide Iran into spheres of influence.Iran into spheres of influence.

The Russians obtain exclusive right The Russians obtain exclusive right to pursue their interests in the to pursue their interests in the northern sphere, the British in the northern sphere, the British in the south and east; both obtain rights to south and east; both obtain rights to a central neutral sphere. a central neutral sphere.

Anglo-Russian Agreement Anglo-Russian Agreement of 1907of 1907

Pahlavi dynastyPahlavi dynasty

Reza Khan was brought to power in a Reza Khan was brought to power in a coup d'etat in 1921. The Qajar rule coup d'etat in 1921. The Qajar rule was officially terminated and Reza was officially terminated and Reza

Khan was proclaimed Khan was proclaimed ShahanshahShahanshah (“King of Kings”) by the Persian (“King of Kings”) by the Persian

Majlis in 1925.Majlis in 1925.

Pahlavi dynastyPahlavi dynasty

Reza KhanReza Khan

Reza Reza Shah Shah Pahlavi from Pahlavi from

1925-19411925-1941

Reza Shah : Ambitious plans for modernizing Iran

and creating a strong, centralized government. Developing large-scale industries, Implementing major infrastructure

projects, Building a cross-country railroad

system, Establishing national public education, Reforming the judiciary, and Improving health care.

Pahlavi Coat of ArmsPahlavi Coat of Arms

The name of the country, The name of the country, Persia, was altered to Iran Persia, was altered to Iran

(Land of the Aryans) in (Land of the Aryans) in 1935.1935.

Muhammad Reza ShahMuhammad Reza Shah

Muhammad Reza ShahMuhammad Reza Shah1941-19791941-1979

The shah planned to fill the government with Western-educated personnel. He sent hundreds of Iranians, including his son, to Europe for training.

Rejection of the Rejection of the West: The Iranian West: The Iranian RevolutionRevolution

Ayatollah KhomeiniAyatollah Khomeini Ayatollah Rouhollah Mousavi Ayatollah Rouhollah Mousavi

KhomeiniKhomeini

A junior figure in A junior figure in the Shiite religious the Shiite religious hierarchy, hierarchy, KhomeiniKhomeini was in was in no position to no position to mobilize popular mobilize popular opinion on a opinion on a national scale. national scale.

The Iranian RevolutionThe Iranian Revolution

The revolution is divided into two stages: The revolution is divided into two stages:

the first saw an alliance of liberal, leftist, the first saw an alliance of liberal, leftist, and religious groups oust the Shah; and religious groups oust the Shah;

the second stage, often named the the second stage, often named the Islamic RevolutionIslamic Revolution, saw the ayatollahs , saw the ayatollahs come to power. come to power.

Fall of the ShahFall of the Shah

Offended Offended ayatollahsayatollahs (religious (religious experts) and experts) and mullahsmullahs (local religious (local religious leaders)leaders)

Rise of Rise of FundamentalismFundamentalismIn the autumn of 1962, the government In the autumn of 1962, the government promulgated new laws governing elections promulgated new laws governing elections to local and provincial councils, which to local and provincial councils, which deleted the former requirement that those deleted the former requirement that those elected be sworn into office on the Koran. elected be sworn into office on the Koran.

Khomeini accused the shah of violating Khomeini accused the shah of violating both the law of Islam and the Iranian both the law of Islam and the Iranian Constitution of 1907, and threatened that Constitution of 1907, and threatened that the 'ulama' (religious scholars) would the 'ulama' (religious scholars) would engage in a sustained campaign of engage in a sustained campaign of protest. protest.

In the context of regional turmoil and In the context of regional turmoil and the Cold War, the Shah established the Cold War, the Shah established himself as an indispensable ally of the himself as an indispensable ally of the West. West.

Domestically, he advocated reform Domestically, he advocated reform policies, culminating in the 1963 policies, culminating in the 1963 program known as the program known as the White White RevolutionRevolution, which included land , which included land reform, the extension of voting rights to reform, the extension of voting rights to women, and the elimination of illiteracy. women, and the elimination of illiteracy. The American-inspired package of The American-inspired package of measures were designed to give his measures were designed to give his regime a liberal and progressive facade.regime a liberal and progressive facade.

Rise of Rise of FundamentalismFundamentalism

Ayatollah Khomeini denounced the Ayatollah Khomeini denounced the Shah and his plans. Shah and his plans.

Two days later Shah took armored Two days later Shah took armored column to Qom, and he delivered a column to Qom, and he delivered a speech harshly attacking the 'ulama' speech harshly attacking the 'ulama' as a class. as a class.

Fall of the ShahFall of the Shah

Offended Offended ayatollahsayatollahs (religious (religious experts) and experts) and mullahsmullahs (local religious (local religious leaders)leaders)

Land reform angered land-owning Land reform angered land-owning class and failed to benefit rural poorclass and failed to benefit rural poor

The Shah's regime continued its pro-American The Shah's regime continued its pro-American policies and in the autumn of 1964, it policies and in the autumn of 1964, it concluded an agreement with the United States concluded an agreement with the United States that provided immunity from prosecution for all that provided immunity from prosecution for all American personnel in Iran and their American personnel in Iran and their dependents. dependents.

This occasioned the Khomeini to deliver a This occasioned the Khomeini to deliver a speech against the Shah. He denounced the speech against the Shah. He denounced the agreement as surrender of Iranian agreement as surrender of Iranian independence and sovereignty, made in independence and sovereignty, made in exchange for a $200 million loan that would be exchange for a $200 million loan that would be of benefit only to the Shah and his associates, of benefit only to the Shah and his associates, and described as traitors all those in the Majlis and described as traitors all those in the Majlis who voted in favor of it; the government lacked who voted in favor of it; the government lacked all legitimacy, he concluded. all legitimacy, he concluded.

Shortly before dawn on Shortly before dawn on November 4, 1964, again November 4, 1964, again commandos surrounded commandos surrounded the Ayatollah Khomeini the Ayatollah Khomeini house in Qom, arrested house in Qom, arrested him, and this time took him, and this time took him directly to Mehrabad him directly to Mehrabad airport in Tehran for airport in Tehran for immediate exile to Turkey. immediate exile to Turkey. Turkish law forbade Turkish law forbade Ayatollah Khomeini to Ayatollah Khomeini to wear the cloak and turban wear the cloak and turban of the Muslim scholar, an of the Muslim scholar, an identity which was integral identity which was integral to his being. to his being.

During his During his exile, exile, Khomeini Khomeini coordinated coordinated an upsurge of an upsurge of opposition--opposition--first from Iraq first from Iraq and then from and then from France, after France, after 1978--1978--demanding demanding the Shah's the Shah's abdication. abdication.

Fall of the ShahFall of the Shah

Offended Offended ayatollahsayatollahs (religious experts) (religious experts) and and mullahsmullahs (local religious leaders) (local religious leaders)

Land reform angered land-owning Land reform angered land-owning class and failed to benefit rural poorclass and failed to benefit rural poor

Alienated emerging middle class and Alienated emerging middle class and merchants with the favoritism showed merchants with the favoritism showed to Western investors and the few to Western investors and the few Iranian entrepreneurs with political Iranian entrepreneurs with political connectionsconnections

In January 7, 1978 when an article appeared In January 7, 1978 when an article appeared in the semi-official newspaper Ittila'at in the semi-official newspaper Ittila'at attacking him in such terms as a traitor attacking him in such terms as a traitor working together with foreign enemies of working together with foreign enemies of the country. The next day a furious mass the country. The next day a furious mass protest took place in Qom; it was protest took place in Qom; it was suppressed by the security forces with suppressed by the security forces with heavy loss of life. heavy loss of life.

This was the first in a series of popular This was the first in a series of popular confrontations that, gathering momentum confrontations that, gathering momentum throughout 1978, soon turned into a vast throughout 1978, soon turned into a vast revolutionary movement, demanding the revolutionary movement, demanding the overthrow of the Pahlavi regime and the overthrow of the Pahlavi regime and the installation of an Islamic government. On installation of an Islamic government. On January 16, 1979, in what was officially January 16, 1979, in what was officially described as a "vacation," the Shah fled described as a "vacation," the Shah fled Iran.Iran.

Fall of the ShahFall of the Shah

Offended Offended ayatollahsayatollahs (religious experts) (religious experts) and and mullahsmullahs (local religious leaders) (local religious leaders)

Land reform angered land-owning class Land reform angered land-owning class and failed to benefit rural poorand failed to benefit rural poor

Alienated emerging middle class and Alienated emerging middle class and merchants with the favoritism showed to merchants with the favoritism showed to Western investors and the few Iranian Western investors and the few Iranian entrepreneurs with political connectionsentrepreneurs with political connections

Urban workers and students favored Urban workers and students favored populistspopulists

Supreme LeaderSupreme Leader

On March 30 and 31, 1979, a On March 30 and 31, 1979, a nationwide referendum resulted in a nationwide referendum resulted in a massive vote in favor of the massive vote in favor of the establishment of an Islamic Republic. establishment of an Islamic Republic. Ayatollah Khomeini proclaimed the next Ayatollah Khomeini proclaimed the next day, April 1, 1979, as the "first day of day, April 1, 1979, as the "first day of God's government". He obtained the God's government". He obtained the title of "Imam," the highest religious title of "Imam," the highest religious rank in Shia, and Supreme Leader of the rank in Shia, and Supreme Leader of the new Iranian Republic (Vali-e Faqeeh). new Iranian Republic (Vali-e Faqeeh).

The Islamic The Islamic RevolutionRevolution

Supreme LeaderSupreme Leader

The supreme leader The supreme leader forms foreign and forms foreign and domestic policy and domestic policy and controls the military controls the military and intelligence and intelligence operations. He also operations. He also appoints leaders of appoints leaders of the judiciary, the the judiciary, the state media, and a state media, and a powerful oversight powerful oversight committee. committee.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

TheocracyTheocracy

The supreme leader appoints The supreme leader appoints the head of the judiciary, the head of the judiciary, who in turn appoints the who in turn appoints the Supreme Court head and the Supreme Court head and the top public prosecutor. After top public prosecutor. After the Islamic revolution, the the Islamic revolution, the Supreme Court revoked allSupreme Court revoked all laws deemed un-Islamic and laws deemed un-Islamic and new laws were established new laws were established based on based on Sharia,Sharia, which is which is law framed around law framed around interpretations of the Islamic interpretations of the Islamic holy text, the Koran. holy text, the Koran.

Hostage CrisisHostage Crisis

1979 – American embassy 1979 – American embassy in Tehran overrun by in Tehran overrun by Iranian students (reports Iranian students (reports range from 300-5000)range from 300-5000)

52 American hostages52 American hostages

Americans are infidels, Americans are infidels, America the “Great America the “Great Satan”Satan”

War with IraqWar with Iraq

1980 - Saddam Hussein takes 1980 - Saddam Hussein takes advantage of political turmoil and advantage of political turmoil and invades Iraninvades Iran

Saddam fearful of Islamic RevolutionSaddam fearful of Islamic Revolution Devastating for overmatched army and Devastating for overmatched army and

fragile economy in Iranfragile economy in Iran Four Hundred thousand Iranians dead Four Hundred thousand Iranians dead United Nations mediated cease-fire United Nations mediated cease-fire

declared in August 1988declared in August 1988