Iran 7000 years of history & civilization!
Iran is home to one of the world’s oldest living civilizations, with historical and urban settlements dating back to 7000 BC. The southwestern and western part of the Iranian Plateau contributed to the traditional Ancient Near East with the Elamite Civilization, from the Early Bronze Age, and later with various other peoples’, such as the Kassites, Mannaeans and Gutians. Hegel once named the Persians as the first Historical People
Iran, 7000 years of history & civilization!
Iran is home to one of the world’s oldest living civilizations, with historical and urban settlements dating back to 7000 BC. The southwestern and western part of the Iranian Plateau contributed to the traditional Ancient Near East with the Elamite Civilization, from the Early Bronze Age, and later with various other peoples’, such as the Kassites, Mannaeans and Gutians. Hegel once named the Persians as the first Historical People.
The Medes unified Iran as a nation and empire in 625 BC. The Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BC), founded by Cyrus the Great, was the first of the Persian empires to rule from the Balkans to North Africa and also Central Asia, spanning three continents, from their seat of power in Persis (Persepolis). It was the largest empire up to that time, and the first world empire, spanning 5.5 million square kilometers, larger than any previous empire in history.
Iran has also endured invasions by the Greeks, Arabs, Turks and Mongols. Nevertheless, it has continually reasserted its national identity throughout the centuries and has developed as a distinct political and cultural entity. Iran was reunified as an independent state in 1501 by the Safavid Dynasty, which converted Iran to Shia Islam as the official religion of their empire, marking one of the most important turning points in the history of Iran and also Islam.
When it comes to UNESCO-registered World Heritage Sites, Iran can boast an impressive 23 registered cultural sites. Palaces, bazaars, places of worship, ancient water systems, and remnants of the great Persian Empire dominate this list. There are a variety of tourist attractions and ancient and historical sites in Iran, such as:
Persepolis (locally known as Takht-e Jamshid): Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire. The site was chosen and constructed under Cyrus the Great, Darius I, and King Xerxes. What remains of this pinnacle of Persian Civilization are massive columns and former palaces, innumerable reliefs depicting people of various nationalities that once walked through there.
Bam and its Cultural Landscape (Arg-e Bam):
An overview of Bam immediately gives visitors the impression of being in a life-sized sand castle. The most recognized monument, Arg-e Bam, dates back over 2,000 years to the Parthian Empire.
Shahr-e Sukhteh (Burnt City):
Or the Burnt City, is an archaeological site of a sizable Bronze Age urban settlement, associated with the Jiroft Culture. The reasons for the unexpected rise and fall of the Burnt City are still wrapped in mystery.
Tepe (Hill) Sialk Ziggurat:
is a large ancient archeological site in a suburb of the city of Kashan, Isfahan Province, in central Iran. According to a joint study between Iran’s Cultural Heritage Organization, the “Louvre”, and the “Institut Francais de Recherche en Iran,” the oldest settlements in Sialk date back to 5500–6000 BC.