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A torn-out contract, a paranoid shah, and Iran's most lucrative resource. With Iran's oil deal up for renewal, Reza Shah clashes with the British and grows suspicious of his closest allies.
A new king, a unified nation, and a country on the brink of transformation. As Reza Shah Pahlavi seizes power, he reshapes Iran with relentless ambition, even at the cost of its democracy.
In the aftermath of the parliament's vote to abolish the Qajar dynasty, Reza Khan and his team lay the groundwork for his ascension to the throne and his official coronation as the new king.
As Iran’s exiled king prepares to return, the parliament grants Prime Minister sweeping powers. With the help of his rivals, Reza Khan sets out to dismantle the century-old Qajar Dynasty.
The Qajar dynasty was the embodiment of ineffectiveness. Tyrants incapable of true tyranny. This is the story of their demise.
Listen to book one recap to get ready for new episodes!
Reza Khan's army marches toward Arabistan, Khaz'al tries to unite local tribes against the government and the battle for Arabistan reaches its breaking point.
A defiant Sheikh, a province rich in oil, and Reza Khan’s push to unify a fractured Iran. The story of Arabistan and how one local tribe became the biggest threat to Persia.
How a journalist and a military lieutenant orchestrated the 1921 coup d’état and how Reza Khan gained control of Iran’s military and became an influential player in the government.
The biggest oil field the world had ever seen, a foreign military occupation and a socialist revolution in the north. As Russia's influence wanes, Britain seizes control of Iran's newfound oil wealth and expands its influence in the region.
As the great war breaks out in Europe, Persia is turned into the ultimate proxy battleground. The story of the First World War and how British, Russian, and German forces competed for control in Iran.
An old king tries to reclaim his throne, the United States sends Morgan Shuster to help Iran's finances, and Russia invades. The complicated history of Iran and Russia and how the Russian influence impacted Iran's democracy.
Two constitutionalist armies arrive at the gates of Tehran and Mohammad Ali Shah prepares the capital of Iran for an all-out war. How battle of Tehran reshaped the future of democracy in Iran and how the country was forced to change in its aftermath.
The battle for Iran's constitutional democracy rages on as the reactionary forces of Mohammad Ali Shah lay siege to the Parliament. In the aftermath of brutal bombardment, pockets of resistance emerge across the nation. Amidst chaos and bloodshed, the very soul of Iran hangs in the balance. Who will prevail in this defining struggle for the future of the nation?
What comes after establishing democracy in a nation? Protecting it at all costs.
In this episode, the ideals of democracy clash with the limitations of Islam and the new Shah maneuvers to undermine the parliament's authority, even as the people take to the streets to defend their hard-won freedoms.
What can you do when the king is assassinated, prices are high and the country is in crisis? You demand a parliament. The story of how Persia's first national assembly (Majlis) was established and how democracy found its way into Iran.
