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History of Iran
From antiquity to the modern era — the historical eras, key events, and narrative that shaped Iran.
Overview
Members of the Achaemenid royal bodyguard, from a bas-relief at Persepolis THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION in 1979 brought a sudden end to the rule of the Pahlavi dynasty, which for fifty years had been identified with the attempt to modernize and Westernize Iran. The Revolution replaced the monarchy with an Islamic republic and a secular state with a quasi-theocracy.
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Historical Eras
The major periods of {country}’s history at a glance.
Achaemenid & Early Empires
559 BCE – 224
Cyrus the Great founded the Achaemenid Empire in 550 BCE, establishing the ancient world's largest realm, stretching from the Aegean to Central Asia. Alexander the Great's conquest in 330 BCE ended Achaemenid rule, giving way to the Seleucid and then Parthian dynasties. This era defined Iranian imperial tradition, administrative sophistication, and Zoroastrian religious culture.
Sasanian Empire
224 – 642
The Sasanian dynasty restored Iranian imperial grandeur, reviving Zoroastrianism as a state religion and centralizing administration across a vast empire rivaling Rome and Byzantium. Sasanian art, architecture, and governance reached remarkable heights, influencing cultures far beyond Iran's borders. The empire ultimately collapsed under the Arab Muslim conquest in 642 CE, marking a civilizational turning point.
Islamic & Mongol Eras
642 – 1501
The Arab conquest introduced Islam and absorbed Iran into the Abbasid Caliphate, yet Persian language, literature, and administrative traditions proved resilient and enriched Islamic civilization broadly. The Seljuk Turks, Genghis Khan's Mongol invasions of 1220, and Timur's campaigns brought successive waves of destruction and political fragmentation. Local Iranian dynasties periodically reasserted Persian cultural identity throughout this turbulent period.
Safavid Dynasty
1501 – 1736
Shah Ismail I founded the Safavid dynasty in 1501 and declared Twelver Shia Islam the state religion, forging a distinct Iranian religious and national identity that endures today. The Safavids restored Iran as a coherent territorial state within borders broadly resembling modern Iran, with Isfahan as a magnificent imperial capital. The dynasty declined through internal weakness and Afghan invasions, ending with Nadir Shah's seizure of power in 1736.
Qajar & Constitutional Era
1796 – 1925
The Qajar dynasty reunified Iran but struggled against Russian and British imperial encroachment, ceding significant territory and sovereignty through unequal treaties. Popular frustration with misrule and foreign interference culminated in the Constitutional Revolution of 1905–07, which established a parliament and limited royal absolutism. The era ended when Reza Khan, a Cossack officer, seized power and founded the Pahlavi dynasty in 1925.
Pahlavi & Islamic Republic
1925 – present
Reza Shah and his son Mohammad Reza Shah pursued aggressive modernization and Westernization, but mounting authoritarianism and social tensions fueled the 1979 Islamic Revolution that replaced the monarchy with a theocratic republic under Ayatollah Khomeini. The new government faced immediate crises including the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis and the devastating 1980–88 Iran-Iraq War. Since then, Iran has navigated international isolation, internal demands for reform, and ongoing tensions between clerical authority and a restive, demographically young population.
Timeline Preview
The first 7 key events. View the full chronology on the timeline page.
559 BCE – 332 BCE
The Achaemenian Dynasty & the Great Persian Empire
The Achaemenian Dynasty & the Great Persian Empire. The Persian Empire became the dominant world power for over two centuries.
550 BCE
Cyrus the Great established the First World Empire
Cyrus the Great established the First World Empire.
525 BCE
Persians conquer Egypt
Persians conquer Egypt.
332 BCE
Alexander the Great conquered Egypt and Persia
Alexander the Great conquered Egypt and Persia.
247 BCE – 224
The Parthians conquered the Seleucids
The Parthians conquered the Seleucids.
224 – 642
The Sasanian Dynasty
The Sasanian Dynasty.
570
The Prophet Mohammad was born
The Prophet Mohammad was born.