1794 Qajar dynasty takes control of Iran, reigns until Mirza Taqi Khan, first minister to shah, arrests chief religious scholar of Tabriz 1851 Shah dismisses Mirza Taqi Khan and agrees to his murder 1891 Protests against granting of tobacco monopoly to British, led by religious scholars, force shah to cancel it

Dec 1905 Authorities order flogging of merchants for raising sugar prices. Provokes strikes and protests by merchants and religious scholars July 1906 Another, larger protest, leading British to induce shah to institute legislative assembly (majlis) Oct 1906 Majlis set up, along with senate, independent judiciary, mandatory education, freedom of press and religion

Shah briefly suspends majlis, after which majlis gradually divided into Democrats (supporters of, among other things, separation of religion and state) and Social Moderates (supporters of religious scholars, landowners and nobility) World War I Feb 1921 Reza Khan (l ) takes control of government

1924 Reza Khan meets with religious scholars, elected as shah 1925 Reza Khan becomes Reza Shah Pahlavi (r ). In years that follow he enacts numerous reforms, including many intended to curb power of religious elite 1941 Reza Shah deposed by British, succeeded by son Muhammad Reza Pahlavi (r )

1953 Muhammad Reza Pahlavi takes control of majlis 1961 Shah dismisses majlis, rules by decree, opposed by many including Ruh Allah Khomeini ( ), who is exiled 1963 Election won by New Iran Party, supporters of shah “Westoxification”

Causes of the Iranian Revolution, Autocratic rule of shah, including brutal suppression of opponents Perceived subservience of shah to U.S.A. and Israel, seen by some as allowing Christianity and Judaism to corrupt Islam Uneven distribution of wealth, leading to disaffection of poor Cultural westernisation offending religious scholars and nationalists

Jan 1978 Government-inspired attack on Khomeini in press provokes demonstration by theological students. Suppressed and 70 people killed, seen as martyrs like al-Husayn (d. 680) 40 days later memorial demonstrations held, again violently suppressed 40 days later more demonstrations

16th Jan 1979 Shah leaves Iran, with power passing into hands of Khomeini Late 1979 Constitution creates new governmental system with chief theologian (i.e. Khomeini) as Supreme Leader and representative of Hidden Imam. Also parliament and Council of Guardians Revolutionary Guards

Muhammad Khatami (b. 1943, president ) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (b. 1956, president 2005-present)

June 2009 Re-election of Ahmadinejad as president leads to wave of protests (Green Movement), which are suppressed February-March 2011 More protests in Iran, again harshly suppressed ‘Ali Khamenei (b. 1939, Supreme Leader, 1989-present)