Tehran is the capital of Iran, but it has been an important city for only a brief part of that country's long history. It lies on the southern slopes of the Elburz Mountains in the north-central part of the country. The mountains separate Tehran from the Caspian Sea, which is 62 miles (100 kilometers) to the north. Places of interest - The Niavaran Palace, in Tehran, Iran, was the home of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. It is now a …
Tehran is a modern city with few historical buildings. However, some of the palaces that housed the rulers of Iran are maintained as museums. They include the Golestan (or Garden of Roses) Palace, the Sa?adabad Palace, and the Niavaran Palace. All feature splendid gardens and relics such as jewel-studded thrones. The National Museum contains stone carvings, pottery, and ceramics from ancient Persia. The Museum of the Islamic Period has examples of Islamic art, including calligraphy—fine handwriting—in Arabic. The Carpet Museum showcases Iran's most famous handicraft. Some of Tehran's mosques—Islamic places of worship—are historical monuments. They include the Iman Khomeini and Sepahsalar mosques, both built in the 19th century. Both buildings are considered works of art, with fine tile work. EconomyThe traditional economic center of Tehran, and all Iran, is the city's bazaar, or marketplace. Goods of all kinds change hands there. Tehran also has factories that produce more than half of Iran's manufactured goods. These include textiles, cement, chinaware and pottery, electrical equipment, food products, and medicines. An oil refinery is nearby. Railway lines connect the capital with other parts of the country. Tehran also has an international airport. HistoryIn the 4th century Tehran was a suburb of the ancient Persian capital of Rayy. After Mongol invaders destroyed Rayy in 1220, many Persians moved to Tehran. The city was the home of several of Persia's rulers from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Agha Mohammad Khan captured the city in 1785 and made it his capital in 1788. Since then Tehran has been the most important city in the country. Agha Mohammad and the members of his family, called the Qajar Dynasty, ruled the country until 1925. Tehran gained fame in 1943 when the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union met there to discuss World War II (1939–45). At that time the country was ruled by the Pahlavi Dynasty, whose rulers modernized the city. In the Pahlavi era Tehran's population increased rapidly. In 1979 the Pahlavis were removed from power by Islamic leaders. Iranians held Americans as hostages in the U.S. embassy in Tehran between 1979 and 1981, putting the city into the news once again. Population (1996 census), 6,758,845. |