Comparing Arab & Persian Cultures Use what you’ve learned about Persian Culture from Rick Steve’s Iran with what you learned about Arab Culture from No Reservations: Saudi Arabia to compare and contrast them with one another. Iran Saudi Arabia Name _____________________Period

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY of IRAN ANCIENT HISTORY of IRAN IRANIAN CULTURE MODERN HISTORY of IRAN US – IRANIAN RELATIONS (Government & People) RICK STEVE’S IRAN Name __________________Period

CIA helped overthrow democratically elected president because he took over American oil companies – replaced him t=with the Shah 1979 – Hostages taken at US Embassy until 1981 Current – Iran’s nuclear weapons program created tension between the US & Iran Iranians like American people, but not the American government Murals Show Anti-American/Pro- Terrorist beliefs of Iran’s Government PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY of IRAN ANCIENT HISTORY of IRAN IRANIAN CULTURE MODERN HISTORY of IRAN US – IRANIAN RELATIONS (Government & People) RICK STEVE’S IRAN KEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEYKEY Iranians are PERSIANS who speak FARSI (not Arabs who speak Arabic) Different Door Knocks for Men/Women so you know if it’s a man or woman at the door. Images in mosques are mostly geometric because Islam forbids images of people/animals. Strangers are treated with extreme hospitality as honored guests Women and Men Segregated – Women must wear veil Iranians are SHI’ITE MUSLIMS No Alcohol Oil found in Iran just before WWI Shah was a key US ally, friendly with US oil companies Shah used oil money to modernize Iran 1979 Fundamentalist Islamic Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khomeini, returns from exile and leads the IRANIAN REVOLUTION Iran is now a THEOCRACY = government headed by religious leaders, not political. In Iran’s government there is NO-separation-between-Mosque-and-State (government and religion combined – opposite of USA) One of the first places humans developed agriculture (domesticated plants & animals) Iran is the location of the Ancient Empire of PERSIA Main route of SILK ROAD – brought trade/inventions/ideas to Persia (Iran) Many invasions by Greeks, Arabs & Turks. Most artifacts destroyed or looted by invaders – most remaining pieces in museums in Europe/USA Arid climate (dry – nearly desert but still good agriculture) Good for growing grain (barley) and grazing sheep High Plateau – mostly over 4,000 ft. elevation Oil discovered in the early part of the 20 th century