A Brief History Of Iran: Why Is There Unrest?

How does Iranian history underpin today's unrest? Dan traces more than 2,500 years of Iran's story — from the first Persian empires through conquest, dynasties, and revolution — to understand how power, identity, and sovereignty have shaped the country.

He's joined by Ali Ansari, Professor of Iranian History at the University of St Andrews to explore key turning points over the centuries from the Arab conquest to the 1953 overthrow of Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh and the 1979 Revolution.

A version of this podcast was first released back in 2019.

Produced by Mariana Des Forges and edited by Dougal Patmore, animated by Matthew Wilson & the channel manager is Vilde Øksnes.

00:00 – Iran in Crisis
01:04 – A History of Unrest
01:46 – Ancient Iran
05:27 – Persia vs the West
09:52 – Islam and Survival
11:45 – Mongols and Collapse
15:38 – Shiite Iran
21:01 – Europe Takes Over
26:34 – War and Breakdown
32:55 – The Modern Iranian State
35:20 – Building Modern Iran
38:21 – A Strong State, Weak Citizens
41:07 – Occupation and Awakening
44:16 – Oil and the Coup
45:20 – America Replaces Britain
47:02 – The White Revolution
51:25 – Oil, Power, and Overheating
54:24 – Revolution Unravels the Monarchy
57:46 – An Islamic Republic
1:01:04 – Continuity

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All music from Epidemic Sounds.

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