Iran & America: A Century and Counting · Episode 3 of 11 · 18 min
The Shah's Iran: Modernization, SAVAK & the Road to Revolution
Restored to his throne, the Shah ruled for twenty-six years as an increasingly absolute monarch backed by Washington. He modernized the country and built a feared secret police, while Westernization and royal extravagance alienated a religious society. With secular opposition crushed, the mosque became the one space he could not control.
Who's who
- Mohammad Reza Pahlavi+8 more episodesShah who ruled as an increasingly absolute monarch
- Ruhollah Khomeini+3 more episodesExiled cleric who built an opposition network around the mosques
Where it happens
- Persepolis, IranSite of the 1971 celebration of 2,500 years of monarchy
- Iran's mosquesThe one organizing space the throne could not fully suppress
Timeline
- 1953The Shah is restored to power, backed by the United States as a Cold War anchor.
- 1957SAVAK, the secret police, is established with U.S. and Israeli assistance.
- 1963The "White Revolution" pushes land reform, industrialization and women's suffrage.
- 1964Khomeini is exiled after leading protests.
- 1971A lavish celebration of 2,500 years of monarchy is staged for foreign dignitaries at great cost.
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