The Iranian territory is located in a region which, throughout history, has been the crossroads of different civilizations and peoples. The Aryan people, who immigrated to this area about three thousand years ago, have experienced the most bewildering events in these three millennia.
On Iran's west, there was Europe which lay the foundations of a splendid civilization very early in history. On the east of it, there were the great Chinese, Indian and Japanese civilizations. Central Asians and Caucasians lived to its north and the Arabs in the south. The people of Iran exchanged goods and ideas with all these people as a result of which all these civilizations flourished. In today's Iran, one finds monuments left by the Greeks, Indian temples, symbols of Chinese culture, traces of Arab way of living, even signs of the presence of the Mongols and Tartars.
Many elements of Iranian culture have found their way into other cultures: for example, and in particular, Indian and European. Extensive research made into various cultures indicate that many ceremonies and customs practiced in the East and the West have their origins in Iran.
One of the first steps towards human rights was taken in Iran during the Achaemenid dynasty. In 538 BC, Kourosh (Cyrus) conquered Babylon, but instead of massacring its people and sacking and burning the cities, he went to their temple and worshipped their gods in their own fashion. He also freed the Jewish slaves and returned their possessions to them.
Traces have been discovered in Iran which go back to the age when human beings gathered and stored food, the Neolithic age . Also, remains have been found from later stages of civilization, when human beings had learned to grow food. Earthenware objects have been found, which date back to 10,000 years ago, indicating that people living in the area at the time, had already discovered the craft of pottery.
Objects found in Choghamish indicate that about 8,000 years ago people in Iran could already navigate and produce textiles.
In Syalk, near Kashan, remains of buildings have been discovered belonging to 5,000 years ago, that display a remarkable architecture. At that time (5000 years ago) Iranians were already producing copper and using copper objects.
In the next millennium, the pottery turner, the brick-baking furnace and baked earthenware were already in existence and lighthouses were built to help in navigation.
During the 3rd millennium BC, the Aryans migrated to Iran and soon writing and the signs used for it, were developed. Architecture made great progress, and Iranians became familiar with brass and about the same time they learnt to grow wheat. In the 2nd millennium BC, iron was produced in this region and circa 1250 BC glass was used in the building of Choghazanbil, not far from Susa.
In the 1st millennium BC Iranians made great progress in architecture and town planning, as well as in building dams, roads, and irrigation systems including qanats. The Achaemenid era is the zenith of civilization of the ancient Iran as illustrated, even today, by the splendors of Susa and Persepolis (Takhte Jamshid). Stone work and stone carving became very popular, examples of which have been discovered and are masterpieces of these crafts.
From 247 BC till 224 AD, the Ashkanian or Parthian dynasty ruled over Iran. During this era, academic, technical and material progress was not as remarkable as had been in the Achaemenid era but some achievements were made in architecture. Also, writing on the skin of the deer became current.
A very outstanding period of Iranian history began with the era of the Sassanids in the 3rd century AD. Sassanid kings ruled over Iran for about 400 years. During this period colossal bridges were built a few of which still remain and some are even used today. Dam building was very common in this era, when splendid places were also built. Navigation made great progress and traveling and cargo transportation by sea became routine affairs. As mentioned in the other parts of this book, most of the archeological sights and objects that can still be seen in Iran, remain from this period.
After the emergence of Islam and the establishment of Arab rule on Iran, as a result of political unrest not much developmental progress was made, and building methods did not evolve much for about two centuries. In the 3rd century, however, Iranians, who had accepted Islam almost unanimously, and considered themselves as equals among other Moslems, once again awakened and began a new era of historic and cultural glory.
Gradually, Iranian scientists, mathematicians, philosophers... appeared, each a genius. Kharazmi wrote his book "Algebra". Studies were carried out, with great achievements, in chemistry and astronomy. Zakaria Razi (Rases) discovered alcohol. Bu Ali Sina (Avicenna), the great physician, philosopher and physicist produced an enormous amount of work in many scientific and philosophic areas. Abu Reyhan Biruni (Albyruni), Omar Khayyam, Ghazali... and many others like them added considerably to man's knowledge and wisdom. Many buildings were constructed some of which are mentioned in this book. Also, Iranian literature began to flourish from the 10th century AD onwards, but more of this in the section on literature.
The Mongol invasion was a catastrophe that disrupted, for a while, all cultural and academic progress. The Mongol hordes burnt magnificent libraries and vast schools. Many scientists and men of letters and philosophy were killed or forced to flee. There was a period of total cultural stagnation, till Khajeh Nssirolmolk became the vizier of Holaku Khan. This great scholar worked ceaselessly for 30 years to revive Iran's academic movement.
He repaired or built many schools and academic centers in different parts of Iran, and took the academics under his own protection. Excellent libraries were created once again and as the Mongols were gradually absorbed into Iranian Moslem culture and civilization, sciences, philosophy, literature,... advanced rapidly, once again.
Taymoor's (Tamerlane's) invasion was another disaster which, once more, retarded cultural progress in Iran. But, as it had happened before to the Mongols, the ruthless Tartars, too, were ultimately - and very soon - absorbed by the fascinating Iranian civilization.
The Safavid era, though it is not praised for academic achievements, was an era of arts and crafts. Ornamental arts, architecture, carpet-weaving... made stunning progress. Many of the great architectural masterpieces that can be seen in Isfahan, today, were built in this era: such world renowned monuments as the Imam and Lotfollah Mosques, Khajou and Allahverdikhan Bridges, the Alighapou Palace etc, are reminders of this Golden Age of arts and crafts. It was during this period that the first political contacts were made with the new Europe which was making very rapid progress. But, the powerful Ottoman empire was an obstacle in these relations. In the era of Afsharieh, Iranians made attempts to develop modern merchant and military navies.
During the era of Qajars, 1779-1924, Iran was subject of many military aggressions and lost considerable parts of its territory. At the same time, Iranians became closely familiar with modern Western culture, and Western achievements in technology. They built factories, schools, printings-houses... on European models. They published newspapers and developed postal, telegraphic and railway networks. Then oil was discovered in Iran and everybody in the world heard of Iran just as the entire world had known about Iran, 2000 years earlier.