The Iranian Plateau

Iran

A highland of empires between Caspian and Gulf — Achaemenid stone, Safavid blues, Nowruz fire, and a living table of kebab, tahdig, and tar.

550 BCE

Achaemenid empire rises on the plateau

Persepolis

Persepolis built as ceremonial capital

Nowruz

Nowruz still greets the spring equinox

1979

1979 revolution founds the Islamic Republic