2.  In the 1970s and 1980s, the Soviet Union and the US were faced new types of conflict that emerged out of their efforts to stop the spread of democracy/capitalism or communism.  Many of these conflicts greatly weakened the Soviet Union and changed global perceptions of the United States.

3.  Many newly independent countries in the Middle East were struggling to decide if they should form a government based around religious beliefs or a secular (non-religious) government.

4.  Iran’s leader Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi embraced a western style of government and had many foreign alliances.  Many Iranians did not agree with this and didn’t support the Shah.

5.  The US realized the Shah was unpopular, so they gave him money to modernize Iran.  In Tehran, skyscrapers were built along with modern factories.  However, the majority of Iranians cont’d to live in poverty.

6.  This made the people dislike the Shah even more and they began giving their support to an Islamic leader – Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini

7.  Massive strikes and riots, instigated by Khomeini, broke out.  In 1979, the Shah fled Iran and Ayatollah Khomeini took over.  Ayatollah Khomeini was very opposed to any US influence in Iran, and in 1979 with the Ayatollah’s support a group of Iranian revolutionaries took over the US embassy and took more than 60 Americans hostage.

8. The Crisis lasted from Nov 1979 until Jan 1981.

9.  Yes, this is what that new (more like new- ish now) movie Argo is about. But, remember, it’s still Hollywood telling the story, so they dramatize it when needed and add/detract detail when it works better for the story.

10.  Khomeini believed other countries in the middle east should reject foreign influence and overthrow their secular governments.

11.  This created problems between Iran and Iraq.  Both Iran and Iraq are Muslim countries, but practice different types of Islam.  Saddam Hussein, a military leader, ruled Iraq as a secular state.

12.  A war between Iraq and Iran lasted eight years (1980-1988).  The US provided Iraq with intelligence, food aid, and (some) weapons.  They also secretly gave weapons to Iran in an arms-for-hostages deal. (Iran-Contra Affair)

13.  Afghanistan tried to maintain their independence from the Soviet Union, but overtime their influence was increasing.

14.  In the 1970s, a Muslim revolt threatened to topple the communist regime in Afghanistan.  In 1979, the Soviet Union invaded hoping to prevent this.

15.  The Soviets thought they could quickly restore communism and leave, but the Mujahideen (Muslim rebels) fought hard using guerilla tactics.

16.  The US provided the Mujahedeen with weapons to fight against the Soviets.

17.  The Soviets began to realize their struggle was futile, and by 1989, they pulled out the last of their troops in Afghanistan.

18.  Afghanistan was left without a stable government, and the Soviet Union was greatly weakened.