Iran by Night

The Iranian Plateau and the Persian Gulf by night

The region of present-day Iran has always played an important role in human civilization

As early as 50,000 years ago, the Iranian Plateau was one of humanity's crossroads, as people migrated from Africa to settle across the globe and split into East-Eurasian and West-Eurasian branches. However, in modern Iran, both branches remain united. During the Bronze Age, between 2200 and 800 BC, the plateau served as a trade and cultural hub, linking the civilizations of the South Asian Indus Valley and Mesopotamia. Later, the region became an essential part of the 6,400-kilometer-long Silk Road, where textiles, gemstones, and spices traveled from China to the Roman Empire, while glass, silver, wool, and olive oil were traded in the opposite direction toward Asia.

With the decline of the Silk Road, the local economy shifted toward agriculture. Crops such as wheat, rice, fruits like pomegranates, figs, and dates, as well as nuts and almonds, were cultivated, while the Persian textile industry continued to play a significant role. In the 19th century, the region became the focus of geopolitical rivalries between the colonial powers of Russia and Britain, who competed in the “Great Game” for dominance in Central Asia. Southern Iran served as a buffer zone to protect the British colony of India.

It was not until the early 20th century that the region regained international significance with the discovery of oil. Although Iran was never formally colonized, U.S. and British oil companies, along with their governments, exerted considerable pressure and controlled large parts of the economy. Several revolutions and counter-revolutions followed in an effort to reduce dependence on foreign companies like British Petroleum (BP), which paid only minimal royalties to the local population. Finally, the Islamic Revolution of 1979 resulted in the overthrow of the U.S.-backed Shah and the rise to power of a regime that continues to shape the region today, enabling Iran to extend its influence far beyond its borders.