East vs. WestThe Iran Revolution

Patten & ValdnerGlobal History II

Mepham High School

Iran

Shah Mohammed Reza PahlaviIran

» Iranian nationalist who attempted to modernize and westernize Iran.

» Allows capitalism

» Developed Iran’s oil industry

» Repressed civil rights.

» Supported by US

A Divided Iran

» Upper Classes

» Wealthy

» Urban

» Westernized

» Secular

» Minority of the population

» Lower Classes

» Poor

» Rural

» Traditional

» Very Religious

» Majority of the population

Ayatollah KhomeiniIran

» Fundamentalist cleric he led the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

» Under his leadership America was known as “the great satan”.

Fundamentalist

» A fundamentalist is a believer in traditional religious beliefs. Often fundamentalists oppose modern reforms in favor of returning to traditional beliefs.

Ayatollah Khomeini

» Overthrows the Shah» Religious man who wants Iran to be

a religious state (Islamic Fundamentalist)

» Leads the Iranian Revolution» Iran becomes a strict Muslim state

The Iranian Revolution 1979

» Causes» Shah Pahlavi was westernizing Iran» Religious people were unhappy» Khomeini will gain support of the

Islamic Fundamentalists

American Hostages

The Iranian Revolution 1979

» Effects» Khomeini takes power in 1979» The Shah flees Iran; helped by U.S.A.» 53 Americans are taken hostage at the

US embassy until 1981

The Iranian Revolution 1979

» Effects» Iran becomes a theocracy» Iran becomes a strict Muslim State;

laws in Iran are based in the Koran (Quran)

» Women lost all rights and privileges. Government bans western books.

Conflict between Modernization &

Tradition