This survey of Iran's historical development covers everything from its origins in ancient empires to its status as a modern nation-state. Iran, also known as Persia, has over 2500 years of history. It is one of the world's first truly multicultural empires, and modern day Iran is based upon one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations. Today, Iran is populated by over 74 million residents, and 10 percent of the world's oil reserves are within...