OSHER 538 - History of Iran from the Safavids to Present

While Iran was a major US ally in the 20th century, it is currently considered a serious threat to US interests across the globe. Learn about the history of Iran from the origins of the Safavid Dynasty in the early 16th century through the present day. A discussion of Shi'ism, the dominant Islamic sect in Iran, will be included in order to understand the complex nature of Iranian history. We will cover US support of the Pahlavi dynasty during the Cold War and the cultural and political divisions created during the reign of the last Shah. We will conclude with a discussion of the history of the Iranian Revolution and the creation of the Islamic Republic that influenced the current cultural, political, and economic conditions.