Pictorial History of Iran: Ancient Persia

Beloved Reader,

Pictorial History of IRAN, Ancient Persia is about one of the oldest nations and civilizations in the world. I hope the information provided in this book will give you better insight into Persian culture and history, which has survived through the centuries and has withstood the test of time.

As a focal point of the crossroad between East and West, the Persian Empire had a tremendous relevance in the development of human culture. Persians dedicated their lives to the cultivation of ideas, cultural exchange, and human development.

Like Iran's night sky, the ancient history of Iran is full of shining stars. Large cities in Elam, Hamadan, Pasargardae, and Persepolis were established. The union of Medes and Persians laid the foundation for the Achaemenian Empire, which organized, administered, and governed with justice and order the great Persian nation from the Jaxates river (Sir Darya) to Nile, Asia Minor to Persian Gulf, and east as far as the Hindu river. This great nation enjoyed prosperity, vast communication systems, practice of humanitarian equality, and a well-balanced system of government.

Cyrus the Great issued the first declaration of Human Rights, after capturing the Babylonian Empire and freeing the Jews held in captivity there and allowing them to return to Jerusalem.

The Persian Empire reached one of its pinnacles during the Mesopotamia era. With the profound influence of Zoroastrian convictions, with "pure thought," "good deeds" and "noble words," the Persian Empire flourished throughout Asia Minork Lydia, all the way to Greece. Up to this point in history, there were no significant scientific and cultural achievements in Greece.

Many inscriptions found in Persepolis prove that the Persian Empire was the key in cultivation and spread of civilization, as we know it today.

The Persian civilization and the first declaration of human rights by Cyrus the Great has had a lasting impression on all the nations. This humanitarian concern has eventually become a universal principle.

I hope human rights and the promotion of human development will prevail in the 21^st century.

The PICTORIAL HISOTRY OF IRAN is a panoramic event of one of the oldest and most brilliant cultures of humankind. The western world knows little about Persian civilization and their way of life, going thousands B.C. This book is about the Great Persian Empire, which begins with the history of the Arians, Medes, Achaemenians, Parthians, and Sasanians. They are the dynasties, which forged the foundation of our present civilization.

The PICTORIAL HISOTRY OF IRAN brings to focus the wisdom and benevolence of such dynasties as Achaemenians who for 320 years led their people with human rights and religious freedom in whatever form. The Persian Empire was the largest empire the world has yet seen. It included the lands that are now the countries of Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and parts of Pakistan. The book explains how the great Persian King, Kourosh (Cyrus The Great) established the first multinational empire that flourished for centuries.

The PICTORIAL HISOTRY OF IRAN has been put together with patience and attention to details from numerous historical facts, including 61 illustrations and 34 historical maps in a concise and easy to read format.

Some 73 years ago my father who was in the military service and participated by bringing IRAN from the 17^th century to the 20th century had married my mother Mehr-Dokht.

After I was born in Northern Iran, by age 5 my whole family traveled and moved to Tehran.

By 1943 I found myself every day at U.S. Military Camp ＂Aetberi＂ which was near my house. Soon I learned to speak English and became a translator between Iranian workers and U.S. technicians who were responsible to repair the trains and prepare them to transfer military goods to the Soviet Union.

From 1943 to 1960 I worked for the IRAN Rail Road.

In 1962 I left IRAN for Germany to complete my education. By 1968 I had finished my education and received a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

After I returned to IRAN, I started working on construction projects, such as Residential, Commercial, steel structure buildings, and built factories such as sugar, nylon, wood, and heavy machinery until 1986.

By 1958 I had married Fakhri Berendji and God gave us two beautiful children. My daughter Farimah was born in 1958 and my son Sasan in 1961.

By 1976 I had sent my son and daughter to the U.S. From 1976 to 1987 I traveled to the U.S. eleven times to look after my son and daughter, all the way until by 1986 when they finished their college and received Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees.

By 1987 I had decided to write books about the history of IRAN. To this date, these books have been printed and traveled all over the world, from the U.S. to Europe, Japan, and Australia.