Persian Identity in Iran

Samantha Carter, Michelle Epshteyn, Tim Patchen, Meghna Sohoni

Alexander The Great

• Alexander the Great was born in 356 BC to Phillip II and Olympias-considered to be a bastard child

• Alexander III followed the steps of his father- Macedonia was transformed into a great military power

• In 338 BC he was given a commanding post in the Macedonian army

• His father married Cleopatra- this split the royal family and Alexander III fled

• Phillip II invaded Persia and he was mysteriously assassinated- Alexander III took control and set on to conquer Persia 

Ancient Persia

• Conquered Persia

• Battle of Issus and Darius III-large force but many mistakes

• Alexander's cavalry positioned on right flank, attacked left flanko Darius Fled 

• Surrender of Persian cities 

• Battle of Gaugamela -decisive victory for Alexander

• Darius fled, Alexander now master of persia

Zoroastrianism

•  "Zoroastrianism is the oldest of the revealed world-religions, and it has probably had more influence on mankind, directly and indirectly, than any other single faith."

Mary Boyce (scholar of Irianian languages) • "Good thoughts, good words, good deeds"

Zoroastrianist motto

Zoroastrianism

• Founded by Zarathushtra (6000 or 600 BCE)o Attacked for his beliefs but eventually won king's supporto The religion of the Persian empire unti 7th century CE

• Possibly the world's first monotheistic faitho Inspired Christian, Muslim, and Jewish beliefs concerning

God, Satan, Heaven, Hell, etc.• India

o Arab invasion in 650 CEo Largest concentration of Zoroastrians (Parsees/Parsis)o Persecution in Iran (Yazd, Kernan, Tehran)

Zoroastrianism• Beliefs

o  Avesta  Gathas (5 hymns)

o Ahura Mazda - supreme god Light as a symbol of God and Goodness (sacred fire) Attributes (Amesha Spentas or Bounteous Immortals)

facilitate communication between Ahura Mazda and humanso Angra Mainyu - evil spirit of violence and deatho Humanity must choose to follow Good or Evil

 The Spirit of Evil will be destroyed at the end of timeo Death

Soul (urvan) has 3 days of meditation  Judged by a troika

o Noruz - Iranian New Year (New Day) Celebrates the universal rhythms of Earth and nature

Shah

• A hereditary monarch of Persia• The word "shah" was first used during the

Achaemenid Empire (550-330 B.C.), • Continued to be used until the fall of • Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1979.•  Islamic Revolution of 1979 overthrew Iranian Monarchy and

replaced it with Islamic Republic•  Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomenei, leader of revolution, became

leader•  The people wanted a religious ruler, not an American

puppet•  Iran potential target for spread of communism•  American support of Shah

 

Bibliography

"Alexander Defeats The Persians, 331 BC." EyeWitness to History - History through the Eyes of Those     Who Lived It. 2000. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/alexander.htm>. "Alexander the Great (Alexander of Macedon) Biography." History of Macedonia and the Macedonian    Nation. 2003. Web. 08 Dec. 2010.     http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/AncientMacedonia/AlexandertheGreat.html. Cohen, Roger. "1979: Iran's Islamic Revolution: after the Overthrow of the Shah, an American Ally     Became One of Its Biggest Adversaries | New York Times Upfront | Find Articles at BNET." Editorial.     New York Times Upfront 18 Sept. 2006. Find Articles at BNET | News Articles, Magazine Back     Issues & Reference Articles on All Topics. Web. 08 Dec. 2010.     http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BUE/is_2_139/ai_n17214766/. Kennedy, Robert. "StFX Department of Religious Studies." MyStFX. St. Francis Xavier University. Web.    08 Dec. 2010. http://www.mystfx.ca/academic/religious-studies/. 

Robinson, B. A. "Zorastrianism." ReligiousTolerance.org. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance,    12 Dec. 2008. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. http://www.religioustolerance.org/zoroastr.htm.