Iran’s History                                                                                                                                                                               Travis M

 The Iranians are an Aryan people. Their ancestors migrated to the Iranian plateau from Central Asia before 1000 B.C. Persian (Farsi) is the official language. It is written in an Arabic script. But it is related to the languages of Europe. The dominant culture is Persian. But Iran's many ethnic and tribal groups include Azerbaijani Turks, Kurds, Lurs, Bakhtiaris, Arabs, Qashqais, Baluchis, and Turkomans.

Iran’s People The great majority of Iranians are Muslims, or followers of Islam. Most Iranians belong to the Shi'a branch of Islam, which is described in the article on Islam. Iran is the major Shi'ite country in the Muslim world. Large numbers of Christians, Baha'is, and Jews left Iran after the Islamic revolution in 1979.

Iran’s Religion

The revolution brought about many changes in the educational system. Today the emphasis is on the integration of Islamic teachings and values into part of the course of study. Five years of primary education are required. Girls are taught separately from boys.

Iran’s Education

Iran is a land made up of more than 40,000 villages. A typical small village has a mosque (a Muslim place of worship), a public bathhouse, and a bazaar, or market. For centuries a great majority of the people were farmers or nomads. They grew food for themselves, herded animals, and made rugs or other handicrafts. In recent decades millions of poor Iranians have moved to the cities in search of jobs and a better way of life. But many Iranians still live much as their ancestors did.

Iran’s Way Of Life

 Iran's climate is generally dry. Almost all precipitation falls during the winter, much of it in the form of snow. Winters are mild in the north and warm in the south. Elsewhere, January temperatures average near or below freezing. Summers are usually very hot except in the mountains.

Iran’s Transportation

All of Iran's major cities are linked by highways and railroads. The two chief international airports are located near Tehran and at Abadan. Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf is the main terminus for oil exports.