Persian

What was it about Persia’s leadership and military that compelled powerful civilizations like Greece and Rome to fear and respect the might of the largest empire the ancient world had ever seen? The Persian Empire dictated administrative, economic, and artistic trends on an international level for a thousand years. Its people respected diversity and practiced one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world. But who were these people, really, who gave us the famous Persian carpet and taught us landscape gardening, polo, and wine making? Why do people today who can trace their lineage and traditions back to this remarkable empire still proudly celebrate festivals like Nowruz regardless of their nationality or religion? Discover this and more as you journey back in time over 2,000 years to experience life in the Persian Empire and meet the people who called this great empire home.

This book covers one of the defining periods of European history. The series of wars between the Greeks and the Persian Empire produced the famous battles of Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis, as well as an ill-fated attempt to overthrow the Persian king in 400 BC, which helped to inspire the conquests of Alexander the Great. To tell the story of these momentous events--of the lives of great men and women, the societies and cultures that produced them, and how and why they came into conflict--was the aim of Herodotus. Known as the Father of History, Herodotus' account of the wars is the first book to be called a history, and is the principal source for this concise and accessible volume.

An Iranian-American explains the history and heritage of his people, in both the old world and the new. From Persia to Tehr Angeles is a fascinating look at everything from Persia’s ancient past to the modern world of Persian-American immigrants in places like Los Angeles—offering a rich, rounded view a culture many are unfamiliar with. For those who are part of this history, their friends and families, or anyone interested in this corner of the world, it’s an enlightening look at traditions, food, religion, and other aspects of this complex society over many generations.