A trip through history: The rise and fall of the Persian empire
Lecture on 'Iran - the story of Emperors and Kings' held at AKU on Monday.
a talk on the history of persia discussed the rulers, architecture and art of iran. PHOTOS COURTESTY: AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY
KARACHI:
The Aga Khan University auditorium came alive as ENT surgeon Dr Iftikhar Salahuddin started talking about the Persian empire - the emperors, the art and architecture and a contemporary Iran.
The lecture, Iran — the story of Emperors and Kings, was organised by AKU’s Sixth Sense Forum on Monday. While talking about art and the country’s culture, Dr Salahuddin said that Iran’s history started in the 6th Century BC when it became what was called the Persian empire. He claimed that it was Cyrus the great who established his dynasty in the area first. He added, that Cyrus was considered to be the first emperor of the world.
“He was the ultimate king,” said Dr Salahuddin. “His rule was disturbed by what was going on next door in Babylon, but, despite all of that, he managed to win and develop one of the of the oldest cities in the world, Shiraz.” He added that when the Persians went to battle with the Greeks, the war last for about 20 years.
Dr Salahuddin mentioned the rule of the Sassanid dynasty and its significance for Iran as it was in power for more than 400 years, this period is considered to be like the Renaissance of the East.
To explain Iran and the Persian empire better, Dr Salahuddin said, that the country’s history can be broken down into two distinct periods - pre and post-Islam.
When Hazrat Umer (RA) was in power, his military leader Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed defeated the Sassanid armies and captured Persia. This is when Muslims came to power in the area.
The empire, he said, boasts of great scholars, philosophers, physicians and poets including Ibn Sina, Al Razi, Firdausi and Omer Khayyam.
Genghis Khan also occupied Iran and during the Mongol period, art and literature in the country blossomed - Rumi, Saadi and Hafiz are some of the big poets from that time.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2014.
The Aga Khan University auditorium came alive as ENT surgeon Dr Iftikhar Salahuddin started talking about the Persian empire - the emperors, the art and architecture and a contemporary Iran.
The lecture, Iran — the story of Emperors and Kings, was organised by AKU’s Sixth Sense Forum on Monday. While talking about art and the country’s culture, Dr Salahuddin said that Iran’s history started in the 6th Century BC when it became what was called the Persian empire. He claimed that it was Cyrus the great who established his dynasty in the area first. He added, that Cyrus was considered to be the first emperor of the world.
a talk on the history of persia discussed the rulers, architecture and art of iran. PHOTOS COURTESTY: AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY
“He was the ultimate king,” said Dr Salahuddin. “His rule was disturbed by what was going on next door in Babylon, but, despite all of that, he managed to win and develop one of the of the oldest cities in the world, Shiraz.” He added that when the Persians went to battle with the Greeks, the war last for about 20 years.
Dr Salahuddin mentioned the rule of the Sassanid dynasty and its significance for Iran as it was in power for more than 400 years, this period is considered to be like the Renaissance of the East.
To explain Iran and the Persian empire better, Dr Salahuddin said, that the country’s history can be broken down into two distinct periods - pre and post-Islam.
a talk on the history of persia discussed the rulers, architecture and art of iran. PHOTOS COURTESTY: AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY
When Hazrat Umer (RA) was in power, his military leader Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed defeated the Sassanid armies and captured Persia. This is when Muslims came to power in the area.
The empire, he said, boasts of great scholars, philosophers, physicians and poets including Ibn Sina, Al Razi, Firdausi and Omer Khayyam.
a talk on the history of persia discussed the rulers, architecture and art of iran. PHOTOS COURTESTY: AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY
Genghis Khan also occupied Iran and during the Mongol period, art and literature in the country blossomed - Rumi, Saadi and Hafiz are some of the big poets from that time.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2014.