Istorie și literatură în Persia – Viorel Olaru

We attempt to explore the rich history of Iran, from the earliest Iranian peoples to the creation of the modern nation-state we know today. Historically, Iran is located at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, East and West. As a result, people and goods, as well as religious beliefs and cultural norms, have crossed the country, usually, though not always, from East to West. The country has been invaded and influenced by foreign forces on several occasions. First, these invasions have often disrupted the country’s social and economic life, changed its demographics and ethnic composition, and influenced the culture and customs practiced in daily life. Second, ethnically, religiously, linguistically, and regionally, Iran is a diverse society, despite the fact that Persians form the dominant ethnic group, Persian is the official language, and Shiism is the dominant religion. This diversity can hardly be described in simple categorizations. Cultural customs, associated with the same event, often take varied forms in different regions among different ethnic, regional and religious groups. Third, culture is a dynamic phenomenon, subject to change and interpretation. The meaning and significance of an event and the customs associated with it vary for people of different religions, ethnicities and social classes within the same society. When affected by ideological and political trends in a particular period of social history, these interpretations can become controversial and contestable for different circles of society.