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A Brief Country Guide – IRAN

- First and foremost, IRAN is pronounced “Eee-Rahn” (or Ee-Ron) NOT Eye-Ran or EyeRanian!

- Also Iranians are not Arabs, Ethnic Persians make up 60 percent of modern Iran, and modern Persian is the official language. In addition, the majority of Iranians are Shiite Muslims while most Arabs are Sunni Muslims. Watch Arabs vs Iranians by Maz Jobrani ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKvIyQcsbYs

- Name of IRAN: Persians are the largest ethnic group in Iran. Persians are originally of the Persian Tribe of The Three Original Aryan Tribes of Iran which used to be located at the South and Central Iran. The Three Aryan Tribes were Persia (Pars), Media (Mad) and Parthia (Part). Achaemenid and Sassanid were of The Persian Tribe, while Medians were of The Median Tribe and Ashkanid (Arsacid) were of The Parthian Tribe. IRAN means the Land of Aryans! Iranian people inside their country since the time of Zoroaster (probably circa 1000 BC), or even before, have called their country Arya, Iran. IRAN (or as known as Persia to other countries until 1935) is located in very strategic location in the Middle East. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_of_Iran Some QuickFacts: (source The World Factbooks by CIA) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ir.html • Population: 80,840,713 (July 2014 est.) The Capital: City of Tehran: about 8 millions and Tehran County/Province more than 12 millions. Median age: 28.3 years • Border countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan. And bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea • Religions: Muslim (official) 99.4% (Shia 90-95%, Sunni 5-10%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian) 0.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2011 est.)

 Bahai faith is not an official religion in Iran so there is no official statistics available! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Iran

- This is why you will see people are waving flags in an Iranian event (e.g. sport match) outside of Iran with a Lion instead of this (Allah) sign in the middle or just simple 3 colored flag! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Iran Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m Highest is Mount DAMAVAND 5,671 m. (the highest volcano in Asia) (18,605 f) - A four-season country; you are able to go skiing in one of the famous ski resort in north part of Tehran (DIZIN, SHEMSHAK, TOCHAL…) and in a same day with an hour flight go to Jet skiing in Kish Island in the Persian Gulf.

Old Persia: Persepolis: Literally meaning "City of Persians", was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire Persepolis - A New Perspective (English): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwFVq-FPpuU Lost Worlds Persepolis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzmBSX-5nEA

http://www.sunrisefilmco.com/

Cyrus Cylinder: The Cyrus Cylinder is one of the most famous objects to have survived from the ancient world. It was inscribed in Babylonian cuneiform on the orders of Persian King Cyrus the Great (559-530 BC) after he captured Babylon in 539 BC.

The cylinder is often referred to as the FIRST BILL OF HUMAN RIGHTS as it appears to encourage freedom of worship throughout the Persian Empire and to allow deported people to return to their homelands. It was found in Babylon in modern Iraq in 1879 during a British Museum excavation. http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/c/cyrus_cylinder.aspx

Art, Architecture, Cinema, Music … Famous Cities: - Isfahan: Iran's third largest city and one the most beautiful cites of Iran. Naghsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan is one of the largest city squares in the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGAGPnLMds8

- Shiraz: “Shiraz is known as the city of poets, literature, wine and flowers.” http://www.presstvdoc.com/Default/Detail/11202

- Mashhad: Mashhad is the second most populous city in Iran and is a Holy city. Millions (20-30 M) of pilgrims visit Imam Reza Shrine (8th Imam of Shiite) yearly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oipvPiS1OE

- Ahvaz, Kermanshah, Tabriz, Rasht, Hamadan, Yazd…

Iranian-American: “Iranian-Americans are among the highest-educated people in the United States. They have historically excelled in business, academia, the sciences, arts, and entertainment – but have traditionally shied away from participating in American politics and other civic activities. The United States contains the highest number of Iranians outside of Iran.” - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_American - http://www.pbs.org/program/iranian-americans/ - http://www.theguardian.com/world/iran-blog/gallery/2015/jan/26/persian-square-digital-footprint-for-iranian-americans

THE FIRST IRANIAN AMERICAN: http://www.paaia.org/CMS/first-iranian-american.aspx

- TehrAngeles is a portmanteau deriving from the combination of Tehran, the capital of Iran, and Los Angeles. It is used when referring to the large number (estimates range from 700,000 to 800,000) of former Iranian nationals and their descendants residing in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehrangeles

Tehrangeles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS5n6yk0QH8 • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Iranians_in_Los_Angeles • http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-19751370 • http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5459468 • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Iranians_in_Los_Angeles • http://savorandsee.com/2013/07/19/globetrotting-in-los-angeles-persian-square/ • http://www.scpr.org/news/2013/03/25/36525/photos-iranian-new-year-celebration-in-westwood-br/?slide=7

Art and Literature play a main part of Iranian Culture throughout the history: Poetry, Architecture, Music, Calligraphy, Handicraft, Carpets, Miniature painting, Pottery and ceramics, Tile work and Cinema and many more … - Persian Carpet, what's so special? http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2014/09/08/378054/Tehran-expo-Presents-Persian-Carpets Some of the most famous Persian Poets:

Rumi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi Ferdowsi: Shaah-Nameh (world's longest epic poetry created by a single poet) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdowsi Hafez: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafez

Saadi: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saadi_Shirazi All men and women are to each other the limbs of a single body, each of us drawn from life’s shimmering essence, God’s perfect pearl; and when this life we share wounds one of us, all share the hurt as if it were our own. You, who will not feel another’s pain, you forfeit the right to be called human

Omar Khayyám: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Khayy%C3%A1m

Why is Rumi the best-selling poet in the US? http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20140414-americas-best-selling-poet Persian Poet Top Seller In America: http://www.csmonitor.com/1997/1125/112597.us.us.3.html Persian architecture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_architecture http://study.com/academy/lesson/ancient-persian-art-and-architecture-history-style.html

LANGUAGE "سلام" SALAAM is commonly used as greeting instead of Hello any time of the day or night. It means peace in Farsi (or Arabic). Another word is DOROOD/DOWRUD which means salute.

Language / Dialects: - “Modern Persian language or “ "فارسی Farsi/Persian (Parsi) is the official language of Iran, also Afghanistan / Tajikistan but as in the English or any other languages there are many different accents or dialects. Dari (Persian language as it is spoken in Afghanistan) and Tajiki (dialect of Persian spoken in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) are considered as Persian language.” - “Persian (official) 53%, Azeri Turkic and Turkic dialects 18%, Kurdish 10%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 7%, Luri 6%, Balochi 2%, Arabic 2%, other 2%” - People in different part of Iran have different Farsi accent, Tehranian (the capital) accent is the standard! (if there is such thing as a standard accent!) - Azeri is very similar to Turki (The language of Turkey) and almost same as Azerbaijan but different in the way writing. Those countries use semi latin font/characters. - Persian alphabet has 32 characters. Farsi and Arabic are two different languages, although they share almost the same script, and because of Islamic root, we share many words but again they are two different languages with totally different grammar and structure – as an example FARSI does not have gender in subject pronounces (only 6) but Arabic does (14). Another difference between Arabic and Farsi is that in Farsi we have four more characters than Arabic language. “گ پ چ ژ”. “گ” sounds G (like in Gap) “پ” sounds P (as in Papa) “چ“ sounds CH (as in China) and “"ژ sounds ZH (Jacques - French name). In Farsi (much more in Arabic) there are words that do have same sounds / or same dictation but different meaning. (Heteronym or Homograph/Homophone) - There are several letters generally only used in Arabic loanwords. These letters are pronounced the same as similar Persian letters. For example, there are four functionally identical 'z' letters (ز ذ ض ظ), three’s’ letters (س ص ث), two’t’ letters (ط ت), etc. Farsi Keyboard:

- “PARSI SHEKAR AST!” The Persian language is sweet. Timothy Doner, an American Polyglot (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOiXtWcQ8GI) Teen speaks 23 languages - Persian being his favorite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYMI7PwdWsU - Daisy is speaking Persian/Farsi, after one month of learning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_zohs4dMME Body Language: - The thumbs-up sign in IRAN means the middle finger in US! Some Social Etiquette: - Normally younger people should greet older people and those of lower status must greet others above them first. The universal Islamic SALAAM or the extended salaam aleikum "Peace be upon you" and the universal phrase for leave-taking is KHODA HAFEZ - "May God protect you" should be used by you. - Physical contact in greeting people is commonly observed and Iranians can be quite physically intimate with same-sex friends, even in public! (Cheek kissing) - If you are invited to an Iranian's house, bring flowers or pastry to the hosts. When giving a gift, always apologize for its inadequacy.

What is the TAAROF! (Iranian Politeness) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taarof Taarof is a system of politeness that includes both verbal and non-verbal communication.  Iranians protest compliments and attempt to appear vulnerable in public.  They will belittle their own accomplishments in an attempt to appear humble, although other Iranians understand that this is merely a courtesy and do not take the words at face value.  In adherence to taarof, if you are ever offered something, like a tea or sweet, even if you want it, at first decline it until their insistence becomes greater.

Some Dining Etiquette If you are invited to an Iranian's house: . Check to see if the host is wearing shoes. If not, remove yours at the door. . Dress conservatively. . Show respect for the elders by greeting them first. . Shake everyone's hand individually. . Accept any offer of food or drink. Remember to do 'taarof'. . There is often more food than you can eat. Part of Iranian hospitality is to shower guests with abundance. . Expect to be offered second and even third helpings. Initial refusals will be assumed to be polite gestures (taarof again!) and are not taken seriously.

Family Values: - In Iran, the family is the basis of the social structure. - The concept of family is more private than in many other cultures. Female relatives must be protected from outside influences and are taken care of at all times. It is inappropriate to ask questions about an Iranian's wife or other female relatives. . Iranians take their responsibilities to their family quite seriously. . Families tend to be small, only 1 or 2 children, but the extended family is quite close. . Elderly relatives are kept at home, not placed in a nursing home. . Loyalty to the family comes before other social relationship, even business. . Nepotism is considered a good thing, since it implies that employing people one knows and trusts is of primary importance. Watch these video about Taarof: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5oX2n1-diA Funny (use Subtitle): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBcAHTHO1vQ

- The Iranians like to joke no matter how hard and serious the situation is. using the sense of humor and jokes are a common style in debating too. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4FVFhHKMWw https://www.ted.com/talks/Maz_Jobrani_Make_Jokes_not_bombs?language=en http://www.rferl.org/content/despite-the-economic-crisis-theres-still-room-for-jokes-in-iran/24730683.html Sources: http://www.iranvisitor.com/iran-culture/etiquette-tips http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/iran-country-profile.html

FESTIVALS/HOLIDAYS/CELEBRATIONS

Generally Iranian has two types of the events; The Iranian cultural events and festivals (Secular) & the religious (Islamic, Zoroastrianism, Jewish, Christian…) event and celebration. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_festivals_in_Iran - Iranian calendar is one the oldest and most accurate calendar in the world. It is a solar year ((365.24 (solar) vs 354.37 (lunar)) starts on the first day of spring, the vernal equinox. An Iranian year is 365 days and every four years there is a leap year (the last months of the year will be 30 days instead of 29) first six months (spring and summer) are 31-days months and fall and winter are 30 days. Nowruz: March 21st, First day of spring; nowadays more than 400 millions celebrate Nowruz (or Persian New Year) in different part of the world. From China and India to Europe! The International Nowruz Day is a global observance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowruz Nowruz Celebration in USA: President Obama’s Nowruz Message 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZoMIS3cFRA Persian New Year Parade in New York: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2ZAsdi6klM HAFT SEEN (the seven “S”) Table is a traditional table setting of Nowruz. The Haft Seen items are: 1) Sabzeh (سبزه) - wheat, barley, mung bean or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolizing rebirth. 2) Samanu (سمنو) - sweet pudding made from wheat germ - symbolizing affluence. 3) Senjed (سنجد) - dried oleaster Wild Olive fruit - symbolizing love. 4) Seer (سیر) - garlic - symbolizing medicine. 5) Seeb (سیب) - apple - symbolizing beauty and health. 6) Somāq (سماق) - sumac fruit - symbolizing (the color of) sunrise. 7) Serkeh (سرکه) - vinegar - symbolizing old-age and patience. (Other things families usually put on their table, a holy-book or SHAHNAMEH, HAFIZ, Hyacinth plant, Mirror, Goldfish, painted eggs, gold coins and candles. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlsdeENtjxU

http://www. cais-soas .com /CAIS/Celebrations/haftsin.htm

- Sizdah Be Dar: (means 13th in outdoors) is a festival in the Iranian culture, and part of the Nowruz New Year celebration rituals, held on the 13th of FARVARDIN - the 1st month of the Iranian calendar - (corresponding to April 1 or 2, depending on leap or non-leap year) during which people spend time picnicking outdoors. In modern times people go to parks, have a picnic and throw their SABZEH – the sprouts they grow near the beginning of Nowruz - into a river, symbolizing the cycle of life. Some girls also tie the sprouts of sabzeh on this day, symbolizing their wish for good fortune in life and love. Some people also pull practical jokes and tell white lies on this day, calling it the thirteenth lie (this is very similar to April Fools). People will also release goldfish into a pond or river. http://www.farsinet.com/noruz/sizdehbedar.html

Mehregan: مهرگان Festival of Mehr (or Mihr) a day of thanksgiving. It is a day which everyone show the mehr or the love they have for each other and it is one of the most important days in the year. The festival falls on the 196th day of the Iranian year (10th Mehr. 2nd Oct.). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehregan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHCsM3Oy0c8

Shab-e Yaldā ("Yalda night"شب یلدا‎) or Shab-e-Chelle: ("night of (the great) forty", شب چلّه‎) is an Iranian festival celebrated on the "longest and darkest night of the year that is, in the night of the Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice. This corresponds to the night of December 20/21 (±1) in the Gregorian calendar, and to the night between the last day of the ninth month (Azar) and the first day of the tenth month (Dae) of the Iranian civil calendar. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yald%C4%81

Yalda Night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL5zuyNVKOs

FYI! Yalda Persian Celebration of Light -The Origin of Christmas & Hanukkah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_YLFln-Zmc

Chahar Shanbe Suri:چهارشنبه سوری Festival of Fire on last Wednesday Eve of the Iranian year http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaharshanbe_Suri

Chahar Shanbeh Suri https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwyXE4akxT4

- Islamic Celebrations:

• Some of Islamic Events and Celebration (called EID):

• Ramadan رمضان (Ramazan in Iran) is a month of fasting for all Muslims as well as Iranian Muslims. While fasting from (before) Dawn to (after) Dusk, (about 16 hours for June, 2015) Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking, and engaging in sexual relations; in some interpretations, Muslims also refrain from other behavior that could be perceived as sinful, such as swearing, engaging in disagreements, backbiting and procrastination. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/21/ramadan-2014-facts-dates_n_5509148.html

- Ramadan in USA: Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbjT-oc5iwY Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l73BarMOpI

Eid ul-Fitr عید فطر or Eid e Fetr: "The Festival of Fast-Breaking” is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan. People give gifts and money to poor people, patients and the handicapped. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_al-Fitr - President Obama Speech on Ramadan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC98WoZAgw8

- Ashurah and Tasoa: تاسوعا و عاشورا Shi'a Muslims observe the day in mourning for Hussein and in remembrance of his martyrdom. In Iran, Iranians perform Ta'zieh, the old Iranian dramatic parade (post Islamic era). There exists also a rather special recipe for some special drinks in this festival. Many people cook something and offer it to their neighbors as gifts. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Ashura http://www.presstv.com/detail/2014/11/04/384726/millions-of-shia-muslims-marking-ashura/

Millions of mourners flock to Karbala (Iraq) to mark Ashura: http://www.presstv.com/detail/2014/11/01/384361/millions-of-mourners-flock-to-karbala-to-mark-ashura/ - Other events and festivals: - Christmas and New Year are usually celebrated by most of Iranian (some of Iranian Jews and Muslims do not celebrate Xmas though most will do) - Mother Day/Fathers Day: is birth of Fatima the daughter of Prophet Mohammad and Imam Ali his husband. Before revolution it was the Queen’s mother birthday, and no father day! - Charismas for Iranian-Armenian is on January 6th not December 25th. - Halloween and Valentine are also celebrated in Iran by youth inside of Iran too.

FOOD Some popular Iranian dishes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_cuisine • CHELOW KABAAB (چلوکباب‎) is the national dish of Iran. Saffroned basmati / Persian rice (چلو Chelow) + KABAAB KHOOBIDEH کباب کوبیده (Lamb, Ground Beef/Meat) JOOJE جوجه کباب KABOB/KABAAB (Chicken) / KABAAB BARG کباب برگ (Lamb Fillet Kebab) / JEEGAR جیگر (lamb liver) / Sheesh Kabab (Shishlik or Shish Kebab شیشلیک‎)

- Kabab Koobideh Recipe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-gT7t7vCgw

• KHORESHT خورشت means Stews: GORMEH SABZI قرمه سبزی (Green Herb Stew) / FESENJAN فسنجان (Pomegranate Walnut Stew), BADEMJAN بادمجان/ (Eggplant and Tomato Stew) / GHEYMEH قیمه(Split Yellow Peas) / KARAFS کرفس(Celery Stew)

• ABGOOSHT "Beef Abgoosht" Dizi آبگوشت http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abgoosht • ASH (Persian soup)آش ASH-e-RESHTEH آش رشته(noodle, bean and herb soup) • KALE PACHE (lamb’s cheek meat and hoof soup) ZABAAN (lamb’s tongue) MAGHZ (lamb’s brain) • Famous Rices: TAH-CHIN ته چین(Chicken Pieces Mixed With Basmati Rice, Yogurt, and Saffron) / BAGHALI POLO باقالی پلو(Rice with Dill and Fava Beans) /Jeweled Rice (Rice with Nuts and Dried Fruit) / TAHDIG ته دیگ (Crunchy Fried Rice) / ADAS POLO (Rice&Lentils)عدس پلو • Biryani of Isfahan (Persian Burger) / KOOKOO SABZI (Herb Quiche) / KOTLET (Meat Patties) Some fruits and plants origin in Iran: Saffron, Pistachio, Cucumber, Pomegranate, Muskmelon, Cantaloupe, Limes, Persian walnuts, Apricot, Fig, Grape (Shiraz) and … Sides: Salad Shirazi / Mustokhiyar (Yogurt and Cucumber and mint) / Sabzi Khordan (Herb and Cheese Plate) / Persian Halva / Rotab or Mozafati Iranian Date (dark, soft and sweet) BASTANI بستنی: ice-cream: Rose water, Pistachio, Saffron ice cream and Faloodeh فالوده: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWbvpzCvqe0 Try it! Hollywood http://www.yelp.com/biz/mashti-malones-ice-cream-los-angeles / West LA: http://www.yelp.com/biz/saffron-and-rose-ice-cream-los-angeles • 4 Major Iranian Flat Breads: Naan-e BARBARI / LAVASH / SANGAK / TAFTOON • Some Famous Leavened Bread: Naan-e Gandhi / SHIRMAL • A famous dish for Nowruz (Persian New Year) is Sabzi Polo Mahi (Herb Rice with Fish). • A bowl of fresh fruit is common on most Persian tables and dishes of vegetables and herbs are standard sides to most meals. - Persian loves cakes and pastries. https://www.youtube.com/user/theprojectb/videos - Persians generally are more tea (CHAI چای) drinkers than coffee (قهوه GHAHVEH), & coffees in Iran are traditionally very thick, what you may know as Turkish/Arabian or Armenian coffee.

- Generally, Iranians don’t eat pork (or anything of pig’s products) because of religious prohibitions. (Muslims and Jews don’t eat pork (including Ham, Bacon, any type pork/swine’s product or byproducts) - Iranian Jews (conservative) eat Kosher foods and Iranian Muslims usually only eat Halal (means permissible) food. (Halal foods are mostly referred to meats and also not having any pork/alcohol/blood in the food) Muslims usually consider kosher meats and products as Halal and okay to consume) - Armenian Iranian mostly has the same and similar food menu, beside alcohol and pork which many are eating.

Few of famous Iranians: • Maryam Mirzakhani, Mathematician at Princeton, both the first woman in history honored with the Fields Medal, the most prestigious award in mathematics. • Pardis Sabeti, Biologist, (The Rollerblading Rock Star Scientist of Harvard) (TIME Magazine 100 Pioneers) • Christiane Amanpour, International journalist, CNN, CBS, ABS • Shirin Ebadi, recipient 2003 Nobel Peace Prize • Anousheh Ansari, first female space tourist, telecommunication entrepreneur

• Nasim Pedrad, Actress, SNL • Rudi Bakhtiar, Journalist, News Anchor CNN

• Ali Javan, physicist at MIT, Inventor of Gas Laser • Lotfi A. Zadeh, founder of Fuzzy mathematics, fuzzy logic • Majid Samii, World top Neurosurgeon • Gholam A. Peyman, the inventor of LASIK • Reza Aslan, writer, scholar of religious studies • Jimmy Delshad, (ex)Mayor of Beverly Hills, California • Shahrdad Rohani, Musician, Composer • Maz Jobrani, Comedian • Bobak Ferdowsi, The Mohawk Guy at NASA • Pierre Omidyar, Founder of eBay • Ali and Hadi Partovi, Tech. Entrepreneurs & Founders of Code.org • Arash Ferdowsi, cofounder of Dropbox • Bijan, Noted fashion and perfume designer • Manny Mashouf, Founder of Bebe store • Nima Behnoud, Fashion designer (Nimani brand)

Sources: http://www.ranker.com/list/notable-iranian-americans/famous-iranians http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Iranians http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Iranian_Americans http://www.biography.com/people/groups/iranian

References and Resources: -The World Fact Book – CIA Library: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ir.html

CNN - Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown - Iran

https://vimeo.com/111380331

PBS - IRAN - Documentary Yesterday and Today by Rick Steves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D61uriEGsIM - BBC - Behind the Rhetoric the Real Iran: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfIWvJgRNvo - Full Documentary - Tehran, Iran - Life in Iran: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bke8kLt4-9I - PBS: Journalist offers inside look at modern life in Iran (New) http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/journalist-offers-inside-look-modern-life-iran/

- Inside Iran | FRONTLINE | PBS http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/tehran/inside - A guide to 26 foreign countries and names that Americans mispronounce: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/11/22/a-guide-to-26-foreign-countries-and-names-that-americans-mispronounce/ - Why Persian/Farsi is actually easier than the major European languages most people study: http://www.pagef30.com/2008/08/detailed-explanation-of-why-persian.html Visiting Iran: • 19 Reasons Why You Should Never Visit Iran!

http://pulptastic.com/17-reasons-never-visit-iran/

- What I learned by befriending Iranians on Facebook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jv0-dUu4_k

• http://www.roughguides.com/best-places/2015/top-10-countries/ • http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/iran-guide/ • http://www.iranvisitor.com/ • http://wikitravel.org/en/Iran • http://www.lonelyplanet.com/iran • http://www.persianvoyages.com/about-iran/ • http://www.persiancity.com/

History:

Timeline Map of Ancient Persia to Iran:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4ORmtZ2Go4 History of Iran in 5 minutes (3200 BCE - 2013 CE): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60IDTAg33K0 The Cyrus Cylinder - 2600 years of history in one object by Neil MacGregor:

Short video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTAgTCXja4Q

TED TALK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpmsftF2We4

The Persians & Greeks: Crash Course World History #5 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-mkVSasZIM

Ancient Persian Art and Architecture: History & Style http://study.com/academy/lesson/ancient-persian-art-and-architecture-history-style.html Articles & Essays about Ancient Iran, Iranian World & Iranian People: http:// www. cais - soas.com / Essays.htm

Festival and Celebrations: