CivAtlasHistory reader

1979 CE / West Asia & North Africa

The Iranian Revolution and the Establishment of the Islamic Republic

Nationwide protests and strikes overthrew the Pahlavi dynasty, and a new government led by Khomeini established the Islamic Republic, changing society and international relations.

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Era
Modern World
Region
West Asia & North Africa
Theme
Politics
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The story

Protests and strikes expanded during 1978. In January 1979, the shah left Iran, and in February Khomeini returned from exile. On February 11, the military announced that it would withdraw from the conflict, and the old regime collapsed. Following a referendum in late March, the Islamic Republic was proclaimed on April 1. Participants in the revolution had differing demands. Subsequently, as the new government drafted a constitution and strengthened religious leadership, newspapers were closed, political opponents were excluded, and executions occurred. The overthrow of the dynasty and the complete establishment of the new system cannot be described as having happened on a single day. The capital, Tehran, represents one of the centers of the revolution here.

Elsewhere in the world

The hostage crisis at the U.S. embassy in November 1979 and the Iran-Iraq War beginning in 1980 brought developments in post-revolutionary Iran further into international conflict and diplomatic agendas.

Dates and precision

1979 CE Observation point

A representative year used to observe long-term change, rather than its complete beginning or end.

Representative map location

Representative coordinates · 35.689°, 51.389°

Coordinates locate a representative point for the story. They do not mean the event happened only here and do not represent historical borders.

Bibliography

  • U.S. National Archives | Timeline of the Iranian Revolution of 1978–1979 and the Hostage Crisis
  • Encyclopaedia Iranica | Chronology of Iranian History Part 4

Sources are listed as bibliography titles, without external links. A reference does not mean every sentence or interpretation has been independently verified.

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Read this era · Modern WorldRead this region · West Asia & North Africa

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