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The Persians : ancient, mediaeval, and modern Iran / Homa Katouzian

Author
Katouzian, Homa
Additional Titles
Ancient, mediaeval, and modern Iran
Published
New Haven : Yale University Press, [2009]
Copyright Date
©2009
Physical Description
xi, 452 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm

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Contents
Myths, legends and ancient history -- Greeks, Parthians and Persians -- Arabs, Islam and Persians -- Turks and Mongols -- Persian empire again -- Disintegration and reunification -- The dilemma of reform and modernization -- The revolution for law -- Modern arbitrary rule -- Occupation, oil nationalization and dictatorship -- The white revolution -- The revolution of February 1979 -- The Islamic republic -- Iran after Khomeini.
Summary
In recent years, Iran has gained attention mostly for negative reasons - for its authoritarian religious government, disputed nuclear programme, and controversial role in the Middle East - but there is much more to the story of this ancient land than can be gleaned from the news. This authoritative and comprehensive history of Iran, written by Homa Katouzian, an acclaimed expert, covers the entire history of the area from the foundation of the ancient Persian Empire to today's Iranian state. Writing from an Iranian rather than a European perspective, Katouzian integrates the significant cultural and literary history of Iran with its political and social history. Some of the greatest poets of human history wrote in Persian - among them Rumi, Omar Khayyam, and Saadi - and Katouzian discusses and occasionally quotes their work. In his thoughtful analysis of Iranian society, Katouzian argues that the absolute and arbitrary power traditionally enjoyed by Persian/Iranian rulers has resulted in an unstable society where fear and short-term thinking dominate. A magisterial history, this book also serves as an excellent background to the role of Iran in the contemporary world.
Subject(s)
ISBN
9780300121186 (ci : alk. paper)
0300121180 (ci : alk. paper)
Bibliography Note
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Source of Acquisition
Behrend copy: Purchased with funds from the Erie Endowment of Verna M. Lombard Library Endowment; 2009.
View MARC record | catkey: 5812027