A chronology of key events in Iran's history:
 |
| Persepolis, ancient capital of the Persian empire. |
8000 BCE - Civilization begins. The Agricultural Revolution made possible permanent settlements and the creation of complex civilizations. The Iranian plateau became the cradle of one of the oldest civilizations in history.
1000 - 800 BCE - Zoroastrianism introduced. Zoroaster was one of the first prophets to introduce the concepts of monotheism.
559 BCE -Achaemenian Dynasty established. Cyrus the Great the first world empire. His respect for local traditions, laws, languages, and religions set the foundation of a relatively benevolent empire.
522-486 BCE - The rule of Darius the Great. The reign of Darius the Great marked the zenith of the Persian Empire.
Islam introduced
642 -Persian Empire falls. Nomadic tribesman sweep through
Persia, armed with a newly acquired faith, Islam.
1220 - Ghengis Khan attacks. Ghengis Khan and his Mongol hordes attacks Persia, razing almost every major city
1501 - Persia converts to Shi'ism.Shah Ismail I unites all of Persia under Iranian leadership after some nine centuries of foreign or fragmented rule. Shah Ismail declares Shi'ism as the state religion and converted virtually all of Persia.
 |
| Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah. (AP photo) |
Pahlavi dynasty
1921 - Reza Khan named shah. Military officer Reza Khan stages
a coup and names himself shah of Persia. Starts campaign to modernize
country. Forbids women to wear the chador. Opens schools for women.
1935 - Country renamed. Reza Khan changes name of country from Persia to Iran.
1941 - Reza Khan forced out. Reza Shah, who sides with Germans in the war, forced to abdicate by Allies. His son, Reza Pahlavi, named Shah.
1953 - Shah takes control. Nationalist Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadeq is overthrown by the Shah with CIA backing. Shah put back in power. Shah implements massive modernization program which alienates many Iranians.
Islamic Revolution
1978 - Islamic revolution. Mass demonstrations ruthlessly
crushed. But people are persistent. Shah deposed.
1979 - Khomeini in power. Ayatollah Khomeini returns from exile.Islamic republic set up. Islamic militants take 52 Americans hostage inside the US embassy in Tehran.
1980 - Shah dies of cancer in Egypt. September - Iran-Iraq war begins.
 |
| Mohammed Khatami (AP photo) |
1981 - American hostages released after 444 days in captivity.
1988 - Cease-fire in Iran-Iraq War.
1989 - Khomeini dies.
1995 - U.S. imposes oil and trade sanctions for alleged sponsoring terror. Iran denies charges.
1997 - Moderate Mohammad Khatami wins the presidential election by a landslide, with 70 percent of the vote beating the conservative ruling elite.
2001 - President Khatami re-elected for a second term after winning just under 77 percent of the vote.
2002 - U.S. President George Bush describes Iraq, Iran and North Korea as an "axis of evil" in his first State of the Union address.
