• Zand Dynasty• 1751-1794

• Qajar Dynasty• 1796-1925

• Pahlavi Dynasty• Reza Shah 1925-1941• Mohammed Reza Shah

1941-1979

• Islamic Republic• 1979-2005

Qajar Dynasty’sMuzzafari’d-Din Shah QajarRuled from 1896-1907

The last King of the Qajar Dynasty

1907-1921 (14 year period)

1907: Anglo Russian Agreement to divide Persia into spheres of influence

1914: During WWI, The Russians, British and Ottomans occupied parts of Persia

1921: Reza Shah led a successful coup against the Russian and British occupation of Persia

1926: Reza Khan Pahlavi is crowned marking the beginning of the Pahlavi Dynasty.His son, Muhammed Reza is named crown prince

1935: Name of country is changed from Persian to Iran

British owned and controlled theh Anglo-Iranian Oil Company though managed by Germans

1967 – Coronation Ceremony

Iran-Iraq WarSeptember 1980 - August 1988President Saddam Hussein announces his intention to reclaim the Shatt al Arab waterway

Iraq wanted to seize oil producing region of Khuzestan

2005Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: Mayor of Tehran, won the Presidency

Pledged assistance to the poor and to return to the values of the 1979 revolution

April 2006President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at a press conference

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Army Day, April 18, 2006Militia carries banners dedicated to Imam Hossein

Female members of the volunteer militia carrying banners to Imam HosseinArmy Day – April 18, 2006

In 1976 he replaced the Islamic calendar with an imperial calendar Which began with the foundation of the persian empire around 500 BCEAimed to sideline Islam. Excited opposition muslim groups which Rallied around the Ayatollah Khomeini.

Shah used arbitrary arrest, torture, imprisonment and torture.

Ayatollah Khomeini exiled 1964Lived in Najaf, Iraq since 1965: expounded absolutist theocratic ruleLived in France from 1978

Jan 16 1979, Shah left Iran due to 18 mos of health leaveAppointe Baktiar as Prime Minister who was ineffective.Bakhtiar publicly invited Khomeini to return to Iran who arrived Feb. 1

Purges of Shah supporters began. Hundreds were executed.4 of the Shah’s generals were executed by a firing squadMembers of the Shah’s regime were executed.

May 1979 Khomeini createdthe Revolutionary Guard Corps

Leftist newspapers were banned. Opposition leaders were arrested.Power of the clerics increased.Religious repression of women.Students who thought they were eliminating the Shah to bring democracy were disapointed.Speeches against the USA and its alliesBazargan as Prime Minister

Nov 4, 1979 iranian Islaic students took 66 hostages, mostly Americans