Newly-Independent Countries:
Preserving westernisation
Some looking to Islam as solution
to lack of prosperity
1794 Qajar dynasty takes control of Iran,
reigns until 1924
1850 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
1908-9 Shah briefly suspends majlis, after which
majlis gradually divides into Democrats
(supporters of, among other things,
separation of religion and state) and Social
Moderates (supporters of religious scholars,
landowners and nobility)
1907 Partition of Iran between British and
Russians
1911 Majlis closed
1914-18 World War I
1915 Re-opening of majlis
Feb 1921 Reza Khan (1878-1944) takes control
of government
1924 Reza Khan meets with religious elite,
elected shah
1925-41 Reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi
1925 Reza Shah Pahlavi enacts numerous
reforms, including many intended to
curb power of religious elite.
Renames country Iran
1941 Reza Shah deposed by British,
succeeded by son Muhammad
Reza Pahlavi (r. 1941-79)
1953 Muhammad Reza Pahlavi takes control of
majlis
1961 Shah dismisses majlis, rules by decree,
opposed by many including Ruhallah
Khomeini (1902-89), who is
exiled
1963 Election won by New Iran Party,
supporters of shah
“Westoxication”
Causes of the Iranian Revolution, 1978-79
Autocratic rule of shah, including brutal suppression
of opponents (incl. by SAVAK)
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,
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
Impact of Iranian Revolution:
In west: Iran’s return to Middle Ages?
In Muslim world: some horrified, others
inspired
Lessons:
Rulers initially working to present selves
as champions of Islam, pacify
religious elite
Growing autocracy leading to growing
discontent. Religion as one outlet
Combined effort in Iranian Revolution,
but religious elite then prepared to
take control
Asadollah Alam (1919-78)
Iranian aristocrat and supporter of Muhammad
Reza Shah (r. 1941-79)
PM from 1962-64. Suppressed a number of
revolts brutally. Was Minister at Court
from 1966-77
Ruhallah Khomeini al-Musavi (1902-89)
Shi‘ite cleric
Born in Khomein. Settled in Qom in
1923. Lectured and wrote on Islamic
ethics and law
Ruhallah Khomeini al-Musavi (1902-89)
Became fierce critic of shah and government
for their secularism and western
orientation. Preaching led to protests
against the shah
Exiled in 1964, but continued to preach
Returned in 1979 to rebuild Iran after
revolution. Was Supreme Leader until
his death