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Basic Books

History of Iran: Empire of the Mind

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Title
Title: History of Iran: Empire of the Mind
Author: Michael Axworthy
ISBN: 9780465098767
Publisher: Basic Books
Published: 2016
Binding: Paperback
Language: English
Edition: Updated
Number of Pages: 384
Condition Note: Clean, unmarked copy with some edge wear. Good binding. Dust jacket included if issued with one. We ship in recyclable American-made mailers. 100% money-back guarantee on all orders.
Publisher Description: The definitive history of Iran, from the ancient Persian empires to today.

"Michael Axworthy's deft untangling of the country's history, from the advent of Zoroastrianism to the 1979 revolution, is a stunning achievement." ―Guardian

Iran is a land of contradictions. It is an Islamic republic, but one in which only 1.4 percent of the population attend Friday prayers. Iran's religious culture encompasses the most censorious and dogmatic Shi'a Muslim clerics in the world, yet its poetry insistently dwells on the joys of life: wine, beauty, sex. Iranian women are subject to one of the most restrictive dress codes in the Islamic world but make up nearly 60 percent of the student population of the nation's universities.

In A History of Iran, acclaimed historian Michael Axworthy chronicles the rich history of this complex nation from the Achaemenid Empire of sixth century BC to the revolution of 1979 to today, including a close look at Iran's ongoing attempts to become a nuclear power.

This comprehensive volume offers general readers an essential guide to understanding this volatile nation, which is once again at the center of the world's attention.