The Entire History of Iran: Every Year

The wonderful video map above comes from Ollie Bye and shows the entire history of Iran, from 600 BCE to 2020, every year. year by year in just 8 minutes.

Here’s a bit more about some of the various Persian/Iranian states that have existed over time:

Achaemenid Empire (c. 550–330 BCE)

• 550 BCE: Cyrus the Great founded the Achaemenid Empire, uniting Persia and conquering Media, Lydia, and Babylon.
• 522–486 BCE: Darius I expanded the empire, established provincial governments (satrapies), and built infrastructure like roads and canals.
• 490 & 480 BCE: Persian Wars with Greek city-states, including the famous battles of Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis.
• 330 BCE: Alexander the Great conquered Persia, ending Achaemenid rule.

Seleucid and Parthian Eras (312 BCE–224 CE)

• 312–63 BCE: Seleucid Empire, founded by one of Alexander’s generals, controlled Persia.
• 247 BCE–224 CE: Parthian Empire rose, emphasizing Persian cultural resurgence and challenging Roman power.

Sassanian Empire (224–651 CE)

• 224 CE: Ardashir I established the Sassanian Empire, marking a revival of Persian power.
• 531–579 CE: Khosrow I reformed administrative and taxation systems, facilitating a cultural renaissance.
• 602–628 CE: Devastating wars with the Byzantine Empire weakened the Sassanian Empire.
• 651 CE: Arab conquest ended the Sassanian dynasty, marking the beginning of Islamic Persia.

Islamic Persia and Medieval Dynasties (651–1501 CE)

• 651–750: Persia became part of the Islamic Umayyad Caliphate; gradual Islamization occurred.
• 750–1258: Under the Abbasid Caliphate, Persian culture deeply influenced Islamic art, science, philosophy, and literature.
• 819–999: Samanid dynasty promoted Persian language and culture.
• 1037–1194: Seljuk Empire established Sunni dominance across Persia.
• 1219–1221: Mongol invasions under Genghis Khan devastated Persian cities.
• 1256–1335: Ilkhanate, a Mongol successor state, integrated Persian culture deeply into Mongol governance.

Safavid Empire (1501–1736)

• 1501: Shah Ismail founded the Safavid Empire, declaring Shia Islam the state religion, shaping Iranian identity decisively.
• 1587–1629: Shah Abbas I expanded territory, centralized the government, and fostered arts and trade.
• 1722: Afghan invasions severely weakened the empire.

Afsharid and Zand Dynasties (1736–1794)

• 1736–1747: Nader Shah Afshar briefly restored Iranian imperial strength, notably invading India in 1739.
• 1751–1794: Zand dynasty, centered in Shiraz, marked a period of relative stability and cultural revival.

Qajar Dynasty (1794–1925)

• 1794: Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar founded the dynasty, ruling from Tehran.
• 19th century: Iran lost territories to Russia following wars in 1804–13 and 1826–28; faced British-Russian rivalry (the Great Game).
• 1906–1911: Constitutional Revolution limited royal power, establishing Iran’s first parliament.

Pahlavi Dynasty and Modernization (1925–1979)

• 1925: Reza Khan crowned Reza Shah, founded the Pahlavi dynasty, modernizing and centralizing Iran.
• 1941: Reza Shah abdicated under pressure from Allied powers; his son Mohammad Reza Shah assumed power.
• 1951–1953: Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh nationalized the oil industry; ousted in a CIA-backed coup in 1953.
• 1963–1978: “White Revolution” modernized agriculture, industry, education but also faced opposition.

Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic (1979–Present)

• 1979: Iranian Revolution led by Ayatollah Khomeini overthrew the monarchy, establishing the Islamic Republic of Iran.
• 1980–1988: Iran-Iraq War, a costly conflict triggered by Saddam Hussein’s invasion.
• 1989: Ayatollah Khomeini died; Ali Khamenei became Supreme Leader, maintaining strict religious governance.
• 1997–2005: Presidency of Mohammad Khatami, reformist efforts, and greater openness to international relations.
• 2005–2013: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s presidency marked by conservative policies and international tensions over nuclear issues.
• 2015: Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) signed with global powers, temporarily easing tensions and sanctions.
• 2018: U.S. withdrew from JCPOA under Trump administration, renewing tensions and sanctions.
• 2022–2023: Widespread protests following the death of Mahsa Amini highlighted internal dissent and demands for social reform.