Product Description
The second volume describes the formation, in the sixth century BC, of the earliest multi-national empire, its administration, its confrontation with Greece, and its eventual dissolution under the impact of Alexander's conquest of Iran in 331 BC. This was a time of great importance in the history of the entire Middle East, and embraced figures of the stature of Cyrus, Darius and Xerxes. The sources for this period are more diverse than for any other in Iran's history, the bulk of the evidence being preserved in Babylonian, Elamite, Egyptian and Greek. The involvement in this volume of specialists in each of these fields has ensured that the results of the intensive research of recent years are incorporated in this synthesis. In addition to the strictly historical accounts there are chapters on art and architecture, metalwork and glyptic, calendar systems, weights and measures, religion, and the eastern Iranian world as reflected in the Avesta. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Ancient history of Iran
This is a collection of chapters about Ancient Iran during the periods of the Medes and the Achaemenids.The chapters are written by different scholars, as in all the Cambridge History of...series.Those scholars are very thorough and they write in a clear, simple way, with respect for the readers.They provide us with excellent illustrations and maps. There is, of course, an Index. It is a great book to use for research, as it provides a bibliography for each chapter.It is also valuable to simply learn about the subject. ... Read more

Product Description
The Splendour of Iran provides an entirely new insight into both the traditions and contemporary life of one of the world's most ancient civilizations.With 1,250 newly commissioned photographs, The Splendour of Iran displays the richness of Persian culture from the glories of Iran's past, such as the ruined city of Persepolis and the mosques at Isfahan, to contemporary scenes of city and rural life, as well as works of art from museums and collections drawn from every corner of Iran and beyond.

The three volumes cover every aspect of Iran's art and culture, from the Sasanian reliefs at Parsargadae through contemporary wall painting in Tehran, including architecture, sculpture, gardens, mosaics, paintings, miniatures, illuminated manuscripts, carpets, gold and silverware-from ancient times through to the collection of the ex-Shah-and ceramics.The recent history and present-day life of the Iranian people is also shown through original photography and commentary.

More than a survey, The Splendour of Iran offers a fresh approach to the subject through new photography, high-quality design and lucid text written by Iran's leading academics and art historians.They light on Iran's recent history and contemporary life as much as its past, but above all convey a vibrant sense of the country, its art, and its people. The Splendour of Iran, designed by Pentagram, is to be published jointly with Iran University Press, Iran's leading publishers of academic and fine art books.

The Splendour of Iran represents a unique partnership, combining Iranian scholarship and new photography with British design and publishing.

An invaluable source of reference for the specialist and a highly prized edition to the general reader's bookshelf. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great coffee table book
This book was an enormous undertaking, and so consequently tough decisions had to be made by the editor, and (in my humble opinion) some of the sections are lacking somewhat. However, please do not let this deter any quality book fan from it. It is a valiant effort and overall gets a well deserved high rating. Well worth purchasing and certainly contains some magnificent images.

Buying my own book from Amazon
The Splendour of Iran is a three-volume book which I worked on for six years, commissioned by Booth-Clibborn Editions. Athough my name appears as the general editor on all three volumes, I don't know why Amazon refuses to give me proper credit and mentions only the publisher's name as the producer of this book. In any case, having given all my author's copies to different friends, I have started buying more copies from Amazon to give as gifts. I have also used it for a class I taught in America on the culture and art of Iran, and the students have found it very useful because not only can they look at the beautiful pictures in it, but also read the texts, all of which have been written by specialists, in a language that non-specialists can understand.

Amazing! The Persian Empire explored like no other book.
This three volume collection is simply stunning. The three books are all rather large and well laid out. Each volume deals with a specific part of Persian history. The information within covers a broad spectrum and is well illustrated. This is the kind of book one returns to over and over to seek out more information.

Very good books
Dear Sirs,

These are great books if you are interested in Iran and its rich culture. Three volumes will give you exellent imagination of what is Iranian culture from Ancient Persia...
I would like to thank all the authors and photographers of the books. All of You did great job. And this is good price for such books!

A good read
A delightful, yet comprehensive account of a magnificent civilization which has endured great many upheavals and turmoils.
This is a must read. ... Read more

Product Description
In the historical analysis of modern Persian literarycriticism the contribution made by tenth century Iraniansocio-political enlightened thinkers of Iran regretfully have not beenfully examined as yet. This book contains a comprehensive research onthe works of leading figures in the field of literary criticism inmodern Iranian thought of the nineteenth century: Mirza Fath `AliAkhundzade, Mirza Malkom Khan, Mirza `Abd al-Rahim Talebof and Zeynal-`Abedin Maraghe`i. Inclusion of Ahmad Kasravi and Sadeq Hedayat wasconsidered appropriate later due to some common aspects of criticalattitude to the predecessors.

These critics who employed their thoughts and pens in the service ofthe masses criticized ignorance, injustice and despotism, and sincethey were experienced authorities on literature, they attacked thewriters and poets whose works served despotism. These criticisms werethe first seeds of modern literary criticism sown in the field ofsocial and political life, which has helped the young tree of literarycriticism to bear fruit.

The product of four years of research work by the author in thisfield, are worth considering because it can indicate the contributionsmade by distinguished social and political reformists of Iran in thenineteenth century.

The author is well-known to researchers in the field of Iranianstudies. The publication of this book is useful in familiarizing thereaders with one of the most crucial aspects of progressive andcritical thought in the Iranian modern era. ... Read more

Product Description
The Iranian revolution still baffles most Western observers. Few considered the rise of theocracy in a modernized state possible, and fewer thought it might result from a popular revolution.Said Amir Arjomand's The Turban for the Crown provides a thoughtful, painstakingly researched, and intelligible account of the turmoil in Iran which reveals the importance of this singular event for our understanding of revolutions.

Providing crucial historical background, Arjomand examines both the structure of authority in Shi'ism (one of the two main branches of Islam) and the impact of the modern state on Iranian society, two factors essential to the comprehension of the revolution of 1979.He then describes the emergence of Khomeini;the infusion of petrodollars into the economy;the blatant political corruption;and Khomeini's disposal of Bakhtiar, Bani-Sadr, and Bazargan, consolidation of religious rule, and establishment of a constitution based on a new interpretation of Islamic principles. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A good look into the Iranian revolution
The book is a very important look into the Iranian revolution.The author does a good job providing the reader enough background into the history of Iran to provide the context for the revolution without bogging the work down with too much detail. The only problem with this is that those already familiar with this history may feel as if much of the information is rehash, but the author here has put that history within the context of the eventual revolution so that the reader can undrestand the currents that took this nation onto a radical new path for both the state and the Shiite religion.

The author provides a very detailed account of the relationship between the state and the clerical establishment.What is very interesting is the complex and ever changing nature between the clerics and the state whether they be the Pahlavi's or the constitutional government.There was no hard policy but a give and take depending on where each side saw their interests at any given time.The Shah would sometimes court the religious establishment to help bolster their regime only to turn on them once they were firmly entrenched in power.

One of the main things I took away from this book was just how vibrant and fluid Iranian society was.There was so many people pulling in so many different directions that in the end it was this diffusion of power and influence that made it possible for the theocratic revolution to occur.

My main criticism of this book is that when the author hones in on the revolutionary period I feel he sacrifices the macro for the micro.He seems to look at the revolution solely from the perspective of something that happened so it was a foregone conlcusion that it would happen.This causes a loss of perspective that ends up minimizing the very real contributions by a plethora of other groups in the overthrow of the Shah, instead his account makes it seem as if this revolution was simply a clerical affair which it very much was not.In some ways this much more narrow focus can be a good thing as long as the reader already has a pretty in depth understanding of the events because it can provide a better perspective as far as the clerical establishment goes, but without that understanding comng into this book the reader can get a distorted picture.

The other thing this narrow focus does is ignore some real political realities.One of the things the author does is blame the participants for letting Khomeini take over the revolution.The problem I have is that this doesn't take into account two very real factors at play.One of these is Khomeini's very real political acumen, and the second, which plays into the first, is the eupohoria and the momentum of the events.This momentum allowed Khomeini to become a symbol rather than a flesh and blood man with an agenda, and Khomeini the symbol was amorphous and abstract allowing him to be all things to all people.This is why you would see feminists marching in support of the man.By the time the symbol became a hard reality it was already too late.What the auther does do really well, though, is to explain the very real limitations that faced other potential centers of power like the middle class or the Tudeh party.Even had they realized Khomeini's vision early on their potential power was still very new and diffused.

For me the tenth chapter A Comparative Perspective fell flat.It seemed a bit strained and out of place with the rest of the work.I felt it was dense and unnecessary.

With all that said, for me, chapter nine was worth the price of the book alone.I was very pleased to see the author tackle the theory of velayat-e faqih in a serious way.I would have loved to see the author spend more time on this topic, but the author did a wonderful job detailing in a consumer friendly way the huge split that Khomeini caused within the Shiite religion with his implementaion of this theory.He shows where it came from and how this interpretation is so revolutionary.I was thrilled and enthralled reading this section, and it was this section that contributed more to my understanding of all the revolutionary currents that underpinned this historical moment.

There are some real problems with this work, but overall it will go a long way in contributing to the readers overall understanding Iran of today and the past.Also the author's discussion of the religious ramifications is essential reading.This book is definitely recommended despite some real problems, but in the end there is too much value to ignore this important book.

Increases overall understanding
Arjomand's book, Turban for the Crown, is packed full of information on the Islamic Revolution, and the history leading up to the creation of the modern theocracy in Iran.However, Turban for the Crown doesn't present this information in a why that can be penetrated readily.

Arjomand's deep understanding of the intricacy of Islamic society is incredible and his breadth of knowledge into Iran's political environment in relation to the clerical hierarchy give the reader a window into the complex religio-political structure in Iran. Understanding this complexity is not easy for the reader by any means, and it could take multiple readings of certain chapters to discern their meaning and importance.

A solid analysis of the Iranian Revolution.
As the author states in his book, revolutions don't always have to be progressive in nature, they can also be regressive and in some of the revolutions, there are both progressive and regressive trends.As we learn in the Iranian Revolution, the trend was regressive.A second center of power toppled the first center of power because they became worried about their power and resources.The first center of power was the royal dynasty (Pahlavi) where a weak willed dictator did not want to risk the loss of life to save his throne.The American government (under another weak willed leader Carter) chastised the Shah for any loss of life.Meanwhile, a faction of the clergy turned the tables on the Shah and their other competitors and seized power.The result was a more totalitarian government than the Shah ever was.This government encouraged morals police and eliminated any polical opponent (including other clerics).The result was a dictatorial theocracy that exceeded the Shiite traditions on religious control of the government.

The one and only thing I don't like about this book is the sociological precise terminlogy that is used throughout the writings.This is a very difficult book to understand.However, the author does a solid analysis of why the Shah fell and Khomeni rose to the top of the Iranian leadership.

Insightful Perspective of the Revolution
The scholar, Said Amir Arjoumand, attempts to elaborate on the inherent ideological causes of the Iranian Revolution.Various other authors I have come across refer to his work and upon reading his book I find his arguments and theories very well written and supported with extensive research and data.It is an illuminating look at what no doubt at the time must have been perceived as a highly unlikely event...the creation of a modern state subservient to Khomeini's unique vision of Islamic law as embodied in his Velayat-e faqih that ultimately destroyed all borders between politics and religion.It is no doubt a work which will prove challenging and perhaps even distasteful to those who come to it with strongly cemented notions of their own, but the scholarship and prose make it a worthwhile read regardless.

unless you like solid analysis and accurate facts, read.
this book represents the lack of the author's understanding of the social and political realities of a postmodern world.it presents no anylysis, of any depth, of any political thought; nor does it evaluate history, otherthan in a narrow and utterly uncomprehensive way.this book is amanifestation of the unanalytical and ill-informed name-calling nature ofthe anti-islamic republic trend.the author attempts to use westernvocabulary to "describe" the islamic republic, but fails even onwestern terms.for instance, the author lacks understanding of the veryterm 'facist.'or look at how the terms 'western' and 'modern' areconfused. ... Read more

Product Description
This final volume of The Cambridge History of Iran covers the period from 1722 to 1979. Part I sets out the political framework. Beginning in the reign of Nadir Shah, it traces the establishment of the Qajar dynasty and the rise and fall of the Pahlavi autocracy. Part II discusses relations with the Ottoman Empire, Russia, European countries, Britain and British India. Part III covers economic and social developments, including systems of land tenure and revenue administration, the tribes, the traditional Iranian city, European economic penetration and the impact of the oil industry. In Part IV religious and cultural life is examined. There are chapters on religious change and Iranian arts and crafts - including architecture, ceramics, painting, metalwork and textiles, from the eighteenth to the twentieth centuries - and popular entertainment, literature, and the press in modern Iran. The contributors to this volume represent the most informed and up-to-date international scholarship on the region. Together they have provided a unique survey of the modern period in Iranian history, leading up to the formation of the Islamic Republic. ... Read more

Product Description
This book explores the administration of Iran under Mongol rule through taxation and monetary policy. A consistent development is evident only from abundant numismatic material, from the conquest of Samarqand by Chingiz Khan to the reign of the penultimate ruler, Uljaytu. In many cases, the individuals responsible for initiating and conducting the policies can be identified from the histories or remarks of the mint master. The structure of the empire is clearly demarcated by mint production, coin styles and type of metal. This illuminates many controversial historical points such as the meaning and function of an Il-khan and the establishment of the Toluid dynasty under Hulagu. The Mongols broke the crust of an inflexible and archaic Islamic monetary tradition that had hampered economic development by encouraging extensive trade and the sciences (especially astronomy and higher mathematics) through determined and always pragmatic programmes. ... Read more

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Janet Afary is a native of Iran and a leading historian. Her work focuses on gender and sexuality and draws on her experience of growing up in Iran and her involvement with Iranian women of different ages and social strata. These observations, and a wealth of historical documents, form the kernel of this book, which charts the history of the nation's sexual revolution from the nineteenth century to today. What comes across is the extraordinary resilience of the Iranian people, who have drawn on a rich social and cultural heritage to defy the repression and hardship of the Islamist state and its predecessors. It is this resilience, the author concludes, which forms the basis of a sexual revolution taking place in Iran today, one that is promoting reforms in marriage and family laws, and demanding more egalitarian gender and sexual relations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Iranian Society You Never Knew
Thoroughly researched and meticulously presented, Janet Afary's book uses the prism of gender segregation to take the reader through one and a half centuries in the lives of Iranian men and women. From the mid-19th century to the present, you walk through the streets and alleys, listening to under-aged girls being given away to pre-arranged husbands, to women who will see their husband's new legal wife coming home, to harems of the elite and wealthy bursting with wives, concubines and boys. Yet, you also see how under such horrific repression, Iranian women resisted, survived and even prospered.

The story of women who have been oppressed for centuries and their male oppressors is one of immense importance and a possible cause for Iran's problems. Half of the population's creative energies was held back and kept in lock and chain, while the other half's creativity was mostly spent on devising schemes and institutions to keep them so.

In this sex-obsessed society, you're either enjoying sex or providing it, as all else seems to work within this concept. While imperial powers were increasing their influences in Iran, with the British in the South and the Russians in the North, the Qajar kings, princes and the rest of the elite were busy with their sexual politics.

Reading this book - shocking mostly but always enlightening - could be the first step in addressing the dysfunctional norms of Iranian society. I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in understanding current issues in Iran - as well as possible solutions.
... Read more

Product Description
One in a series of short books devoted to different countries that offers much-needed cross-cultural and global material to instructors.Used alongside an introductory sociology text, in courses on the Middle East or Iran, or as a supplement in courses on comparative societies, comparative politics, comparative economics, or social stratification, this book brings a rich global perspective into the undergraduate classroom. The opening chapter establishes historical and cultural context, while subsequent chapters focus on the basic institutions, social stratification, social problems and social change. The chapter organization is typical of a standard introductory sociology text, making it easy to use in any class.

In Modern Iran, the author examines such important topics as the treatment of women, the problems of civil rights abuse, and the role of Iran as a terrorist state, while also portraying the richness of Iranian history and culture, the major Iranian institutions and how they work, and the nature of Iranian social structure, including stratification. ... Read more

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This is the first of two volumes of a business history of a major British bank in the Middle East. Volume 1 traces the history of the bank from its foundation in 1889 as The Imperial Bank of Persia, through the years it was the state bank of Iran, and its development of modern banking in that country, to the ending of its links in 1952. The Bank's history has great importance for an understanding of the economic and political history of Iran in the first half of the twentieth century, and of Britain's diplomatic and economic relations with Iran, and provides evidence challenging many accepted viewpoints. The Bank played a vital role in the region, and in the 'Great Game' between Britain and Russia. During the inter-war years its history was enmeshed with the Pahlavi dynasty and the rise of Iranian nationalism. The book will be invaluable to business and other historians as one of the first scholarly histories of a British overseas bank. Banking and Oil, Volume 2 of The History of The British Bank of the Middle East by Geoffrey Jones, was published in 1987. ... Read more

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The Cambridge History of Iran is a multivolume survey of Iranian history and culture, and its contribution to the civilization of the world.All aspects of the religious, philosophical, political, economic, scientific and artistic elements in Iranian civilization are studied, with some emphasis on the geographical and ecological factors that have contributed to that civilization's special character. The aim is to provide a collection of readable essays rather than a catalogue of information.The volumes offer scope for the publication of new ideas as well as providing summaries of established facts.It is hoped that the volumes will act as a stimulus to specialists, but they are primarily concerned with answering the sort of questions about the past and present of Iran that are asked by the nonspecialist. ... Read more

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Shah 'Abbas I was one of Iran's most influential leaders. Combining his ruthless ambition with a desire for stability, he left a far-reaching mark on the society and artistic heritage of Iran, renovating the country's spectacular shrines and transforming its trading relations with the rest of the world.This richly illustrated book brings together an amazing array of treasures that were given to Iran's shrines during Shah 'Abbas's reign. It traces the story of the Safavid dynasty (1501-1722), a period of dynamic religious and political development in Iran. Art and architecture flourished and achieved new heights of beauty and brilliance with the creation of the magnificent shrines at Ardabil, Mashhad and Qum. During this so-called Golden Age of Persian art, Shah 'Abbas renovated these shrines and donated to them priceless works of art including sumptuous carpets, silks, porcelain and albums, many of which are illustrated here in glorious detail. He also created the new capital at Isfahan his crowning artistic achievement where he rebuilt his empire surrounded by an inner circle of great artists and thinkers. From here he encouraged foreigners to come to Iran and welcomed the opportunity to open up trading links with Europe. This fascinating book looks in detail at this turning-point in Iran's history. It investigates the context of Shah Abbass gifts and renovations; it also explores how these shrines functioned in the early seventeenth century and the ways in which practices and beliefs initiated under the Safavids are reflected in the world-famous shrines at Mashhad and Qum of today. ... Read more

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The truths about Iran; quite different truths from versions put forward by Washington, Tehran, and the media.Iran thundered onto the world stage in 1979 with an Islamic revolution that shook the world. Today that revolution has gone astray, a popular democracy movement boldly challenges authority, and young Iranians are more interested in moving to America than in chanting "Death to America." Afshin Molavi, born in Iran and fluent in Persian, traveled widely across his homeland, exploring the legacy of the Iranian revolution and probing the soul of Iran, a land with nearly three millennia of often-glorious history. Like a master Persian carpet maker, Molavi weaves together threads of rich historical insight, political analysis, cultural observation, and the daily realities of life in the Islamic republic to produce a colorful, intricate, and mesmerizing narrative. Originally published in hardcover under the title Persian Pilgrimages, this paperback edition is revised, with a new introduction and epilogue. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

They ran out of copies and cancelled the order.
what more can i say? if you had a "does not apply" option i would take that. they were prompt about letting me know about the shortage.

IGNORING THE REALITIES OF IRAN
This book tries to put a human face on the terrible Khomeinist regime by associating it with the beauties of Iranian culture and civilization. Sadly, Khomeinism is the enemy of Iranian civilization and cannotbe sold under a mask. To understand the true soul of Iran, interested readers must go to other contemporary Iranian writers who do not wish to be apologists for Khomeinisim. Among those that I have enjoyed are Azar Nafisi, Fereydoun Hoveyda, Amir Taheri and Abbas Amanat.

Well written travel log
Part travel log and part 20th century political history of Iran. The book's chapters are organized around "pilgrimages" to various sites of historical or cultural importance between 1999-2000 and 2003. His pilgrimages cover the historic (Tomb of Cyrus) to modern cultural (Shrine of Khomeini) to the modern economic (Canadian consul in Syria for visas). Molvai, an Iranian-American, masterfully connects these stories and weaves his own observations with background and history for the reader. The reader comes away with a more complete view of Iranian culture and a different perspective than the "Death to America" chanting and nuclear saber rattling that we see on the major news networks.

Worthless
I started this book with a lot of enthusiasm,& was immediately hugely disappointed.I did not continue beyond a few pages.It's full of cliches which have been said 1000 times, with nothing new to say.Wait until it becomes $0.01, then it may be considered.If you need a good read about the real Iran buy "My Life as a Traiter" by Zara Ghahramani,"Lipstick Jihad" by Azadeh Moaveni &
books by Azar Nafisi, Marina Nemat, Firoozeh Dumas, Shirin Ebadi as well as an original look at the contemporary scene :"We are Iran".

Excellent and beautifully written account of modern and historical Iran
I loved this book.It provided a wonderfully written, well-paced, well-researched and incredibly entertaining account of modern day Iran and the historical events that it made it the way it is.I couldn't put it down. ... Read more

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For many Americans, Iran is our most dangerous enemy--part of George W. Bush's "axis of evil" even before the appearance of Ahmadinejad.But what is the reality? How did Ahmadinejad rise to power, and how much power does he really have? What are the chances of normalizing relations with Iran?
In After Khomeini, Saïd Amir Arjomand paints a subtle and perceptive portrait of contemporary Iran. This work, a sequel to Arjomand's acclaimed The Turban for the Crown, examines Iran under the successors of Ayatollah Khomeini up to the present day. He begins, as the Islamic Republic did, with Khomeini, offering a brilliant capsule biography of the man who masterminded the revolution that overthrew the Shah. Arjomand draws clear distinctions between the moderates of the initial phrase of the revolution, radicals, pragmatists, and hardliners, the latter best exemplified by Mahmud Ahmadinejad. Taking a chronological and thematic approach, he traces the emergence and consolidation of the present system of collective rule by clerical councils and the peaceful transition to dual leadership by the ayatollah as the supreme guide and the subordinate president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He explains the internal political quarrels among Khomeini's heirs as a struggle over his revolutionary legacy. And he outlines how the ruling clerical elite and the nation's security forces are interdependent politically and economically, speculating on the potential future role of the Revolutionary Guards.Bringing the work up to current political events, Arjomand analyzes Iran's foreign policy as well, including the impact of the fall of Communism on Iran and Ahmadinejad's nuclear policy.
Few countries loom larger in American foreign relations than Iran. In this rich and insightful account, an expert on Iranian society and politics untangles the complexities of a nation still riding the turbulent wake of one of history's great revolutions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A concise primer
A scholar's account of where the Islamic Republic is heading. It is well-researched and argued but not as easy to read. Still for Iran followers it is a worthy resource.

give this one a pass
This one is accurately titled:it's a history of the political developments and infighting among members of Iran's mullah elite after the death of Khomeini up until a few months ago.

The text is stiff and a bit heavy.I was going to say "scholarly," but not quite that bad.

Worse, it doesn't really explore anything that wasn't far more capably explored in The Persian Night: Iran under the Khomeinist Revolution.The middle chapters of that book covered pretty much the exact same material -- Tehran politics from 1989 to about 2007 -- in a far more engaging and readable manner.

If you've read that book and are still jonesing for more, I would recommend Majd's The Ayatollah Begs to Differ: The Paradox of Modern Iran before you come to this one.

Analysis of the Islamic Revolution
This is a book about the decay of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) into a patrimonial regime over the course of thirty years. For a look at the actual revolution, I recommend Milani's The Making Of Iran's Islamic Revolution.


Arjomand wisely balances his examination of the economics and power politics with a sincere look at the Iranian revolutionary ideology.This is not monolithic, and, as Arjomand demonstrates, it is not unproblematic either (not even for adherents).The basic doctrine of *velayat-e-faqi* is translated as "mandate of the jurist," but this simple expression leaves serious difficulties in interpretation.The partisans of the revolution were undecided as to if there was to be one single jurist (Khomeini) or the entire ecclesiastical community (in which case, Khomeini would have been balanced by, say, Ali Montazeri); if the jurists were to govern by guidance, by example, or by direct supervision. In the event, the immense constitutional powers awarded to the supreme leader would eventually ensure a system of adoptive Caesars.


The economic dimension of the Islamic revolution is ambiguous.The regime's older eminences favored a very strict market economy, yet confiscated the sham "enterprises" of the Shah's friends.Rather than nationalize these to serve the developmental state, Khomeini created several *bonyad* (foundations), each of which held many enterprises in trust.These were later assimilated into the business empires of the military-security complex, dominated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC, or *Pasdaran*) and the Mobilization Corp (*Basij*).The normal social functions of government developed under the Shah nearly collapsed during the revolution before rebounding to somewhat larger dimensions under Pres. Hashemi-Rafsanjani (1989-1997), but this was mainly to rebuild a country devastated by revolution and war with Iraq.Eventually, of course, the military-security complex has come to dominate economic policy in Iran; it has been a major consolation to being permanently underneath the clergy, who retains actual power.


The book's narrative style is somewhat difficult to follow; Arjomand is not clear as to what the reformists and radicals want, and why so many radicals became reformists.Also, Arjomand constantly refers to topics that he expects the reader to already be familiar with, such as "integrative revolution" (a theory of revolution propounded by Vilfredo Pareto, and of course totally unfamiliar to most Iranians).He also drops a lot of startling revelations about the involvement of the IRGC in overseas terrorism, which I think remain unproven.


Overall, a valuable contribution to the scanty literature on the revolution.I remain a bit skeptical of some claims, such as the ties to terrorist acts or the egregious corruption of the *Pasdaran* economic empire; these are not, in my view, adequately documented. ... Read more

Product Description
This book examines the Russian explorers and officials in the nineteenth and early twentieth century who came into contact with Iran as a part of the Great Game. It demonstrates the development of Russia's own form of Orientalism, a phenomenon that has previously been thought to be exclusive to the West. ... Read more

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Cool maps of Iran for curious minds aged 7 to 77!Beautifully printed color images show Persian history, oil riches, politics, population, religion, satellite views, WMD, and More!If you enjoy maps, geography, or the Near East, you will enjoy this book!A terrific educational resource. ... Read more

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The Deh Luran Plain, nestled in the foothills of the Zagros Mountains close to the modern border between Iraq and Iran, had a long and rich prehistory, beginning with the local development of villages dependent upon rainfall farming and herding in the 8th millenium B.C. These developed into networks of villages and small centers exploiting irrigation and agriculture, and these became involved in the networks of exchange developing around the first state polities and urban societies during the 9th millennium B.C. This volume continues the account of the plain from the later 3rd millennium B.C. to the middle of the 1st millennium B.C., based primarily on the detailed surveys conducted by James A. Neely in 1969 and Pierre de Miroschedji in 1976, and on a review of excavations and ancient written sources relevant to this span of time. This study contains detailed site maps and descriptions, aerial and satellite images of major sites, statistics and drawings of ceramics, and discussions of the historical sources. ... Read more

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This volume covers the history of Iran from the collapse of the Il-Khanid empire (c. 1335) to the second quarter of the eighteenth century. The period is of special interest as one which, in the traditional view, witnessed the emergence of Iran as a 'national state'. It is in the latter half of this era that moderate Shi'ism acquired the definitive hold on the country which has been maintained to the present day, and which helps to differentiate Iran from the other Islamic states of south-west Asia. In addition to chapters on commercial and diplomatic contacts with Europe - contacts usually fortified by a common hostility to the Ottoman Turks - which became prominent from the sixteenth century, the volume contains chapters on social and economic history, the arts and architecture, the exact sciences, religion, philosophy and literature. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Comprehensive Survey
Dr Ehsan Yarshater is one of the most prominant Iranologists of today.His efforts have lead to some of the most comprehensive works in this area and include the present work as well as Encyclopaedia Iranica now published in fascicles.

The Cambridge History of Iran covers in its third volume that period of the Iranian history that begins with the fall of the Achaemenian Dynasty to the advent of Islam.Unlike the Achaemenian period or Islamic Iran, the sources of history are meagre for this period and much inference need to have been made in the construction of this important history especially as it pertaines to the Arsacede Dynasty.The local histories as they relate to the Arsacede period were forgotten in the early parts of the Islamic era and that which remains from the Sassanid era are the early Farsi and Arabic lierary works inspired by those ofthe Sassanids as well as religious texts preserved by the Zoroastrian communities in Iran and India.Other sources of this period include those written by other peoples mostly with political agendas against the Iranians they wrote about.

The volume is unique in that it makes use of the primary sources. In particular the use of a Sassanid legal text is extremely valuable.However the volume also presents some fundamental mistakes in that in using some religious text in presents them as the state of knowledge in the Sassanid era.This is like presenting the Adam and Eve story as the state of scientific knowledge in Christian Europe today.

Overall I give this volume four out of five. ... Read more