A bas relief sculpture at Naqsh-e Rostam, Iran, depicting the triumph of Shapur I over the Roman Emperor Valerian.
Having spent the last few years studying the series of great Iranian empires which preceded the conquest by Arabs, I’ve become familiar with the idea of an Iran bestriding the world like a Colosssus, as it has repeatedly and over a very long period, right into the modern era. (Maps of these empires, below.) My feeling is that we are seeing something more than a struggle for regional ‘hegemony’ by Iran.
Iranians are generally aware of their history and cultural heritage (as best they may, considering that much is lost, perhaps irretrievably). I am still being surprised at how technically-inventive this culture was thousands of years ago, and how this technology has not been lost, but is still being used and even adopted by others.
 |
 |
| An ice-pit – Yakhchal – in Yazd Province. In 400 BCE, Persian engineers had already mastered the technique of storing ice in the middle of summer in the desert. |
Wind tower and qanat used for cooling. |
To regard Iran as Third World, ‘Developing’ or in any way backward, would be to ignore how it has caught up in the last decades. Iran looks today to be a modern, technological nation. It’s military has a growing arsenal of very sophisticated weapons.
That apart, my interest is cultural and in that regard, I think I see signs that the Iranian elite not only values its past, regardless of it not being Islamic, but would aim at re-establishing as much of it as they can. I think Iran has done most of the work, already.
In the face of growing international sanctions, Pakistan is now offering support to Iran. Pakistan broke earlier sanctions to provide Iran with the science and technology to make the atomic bomb and there are voices inside Pakistan in support of a weaponised Iran in the face of US opposition. Iran and Pakistan may well seek to share Afghanistan between themselves once Nato departs.
The Iraqi government is led by pro-Iranians. If a regional war breaks out, do not be surprised to see Iranian forces move through Iraq without opposition. Next stop: Saudi (not just for the oil but also Mecca;) and possibly Jordan, to help its allies in Syria.
The concern over a possible Israeli strike against Iran misses the point, I think, for if Iran has qualms now over weaponising its nuclear power, these would disappear immediately in the face of an attack. A strike on Iran could be both a self-fulfilling prophecy of doom for Israel and the instigation of a sudden and dramatic expansion of Iranian power in the region.
Past empires:
Sassanid Persian Empire 241-651 CE
The Sassanid Empire in dark green, territory contested with the East Romans in medium green, maximum gains during Khosrau II’s rule in light green.
Parthian Empire 247 BCE – 224 CE
This probably became Scythian under Maues in the last century of the past era.
Seleucid Empire - at the height of its power, it included central Anatolia, the Levant, Mesopotamia, Persia, today’s Turkmenistan, Pamir and parts of Pakistan.
A Greek-Macedonian state created out of the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great.
Achaemenid Empire c. 550–330 BCE
No related posts.
Follow Us!