Iran: An Underrated Civilization and Its Unfinished Transformation

Iran (Persia) is one of the world's most important civilizations and one of the few countries that still retains its own distinct civilization.

Today, as an Islamic power with broad regional influence, Iran is deeply integrated into the global economy thanks to its abundant energy reserves. Even so, Iran has always seemed at odds with the Western world. Why does the Iranian government openly declare that it will not adapt to Western ideology? When and why did Iran become a Shiite country? What factors triggered the 1979 Islamic Revolution? Is Iran's nuclear program really intended to acquire nuclear weapons? Is Khamenei a dictator? Who actually runs the country? Questions about Iran keep arising. To answer them, we must gain a deep understanding of Iranian history.

Presented in a question-and-answer format, this book explains the historical roots and evolution of key issues closely related to Iran, one by one. Its account spans from 4000 BC to the early 21st century, highlighting pivotal events and turning points and analyzing their influences and consequences. Rather than following the usual approach of writing history from a Western or diplomatic perspective, this book is grounded in the development of Iran's own civilization and focuses on the true face of its culture, economy, politics, and people. It offers the world a new and fuller answer to how contemporary Iran came to be what it is, how it reached this point, and where it might be headed.