Timeline of Iranian History

part 2

Before 3000BC. Settlements in dry farming areas, including Mesopotamia and Susa in Iran, and presence of far reaching trade.

3000-2000 BC. Migration of semi-nomadic pastoral tribes, and permanent settlements in Zagros Mountains in modern Kurdistan and Luristan. Major Mesopotamian City states dominated the area.

2000-1000 BC. The arrival of semi-nomadic populations, including the Indo-Iranians tribes.

1000 BC. Iranian groups such as Medes, were already organized into small states or tribes in western Iran, and expanded into northwestern Iran

800BC. By the second half of the eight-century BC, the Iranians constituted the majority in many regions of western and northwestern Iran. Medes consolidated their power.

728 – 550 BC. Medes form the first Iranian dynasty in the region. The beginning of Jewish settlements in Iran

550 - 330BCBC. Achaemenid Persians create the first major empire, and Persian speaking groups dominate the entire region. Aramaic is used extensively but, Persians maintain Old Persian language and their own cuneiform writing

330 – 130 BC. Greek conquest of Iran and formation of Greek colonies in Iranian territories. Greek language and culture becomes popular. Iran becomes part of the Seleucid Empire.

247BC – 224AD. Parthian tribes, an Iranian group, end the Greek rule, Middle Persian is developed, and Zoroastrianism is promoted. Christians settle in Iran and Parthians battle Romans and invaders from the east.

224 - 651 AD. The last major Iranian group, Sasanian, rule Iran, Middle Persian is fully developed, and a Zoroastrian church is established. Centuries of wars with Rome and Byzantine weakens the empire, and Iran falls to the Arab/Muslims.

622: Holy Prophet (A.S) migrated from Mecca to Medina. This date is the beginning of Islamic Lunar calendar.

642: The Sassanian Empire falls to the Muslim armies of Arabia.

661: Imam Ali (A.S), the Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH) son-in-law is assassinated. The Umayyad clan emerges as the rulers of the new Muslim Empire.

680: Imam Hussein(A.S), Ali's (A.S) son, was killed by the Umayyad army in Karbala. His death becomes the most important Shi‘ite mourning event.

696: Arabic had become the dominant language of the Islamic world.

750: The Abbasids end Umayyad rule with help from the Persians.

821: Tahirids, a local dynasty from Iran practically end the Arab domination of Iran. Their rule ends in 873.

Other Links:

Haft Keshvar (7 Countries)-part 1

History of Ancient Medicine in Mesopotamia & Iran-part 1

Iran, a Brief History (part 1)

A – Z of Iran History (A)