Iran

Iran, or Persia as it was formerly known, has been of interest to outsiders for millennia. From the Greco-Persian wars of antiquity, through the rise and flourishing of Islam, to the age of European imperialist expansion in the East, Iran has been a central player in global history. Drawn by its strategic location along the Silk Road, ancient and distinctive culture and abundant natural resources, foreign diplomats, traders and travelers have been coming to Iran for centuries. The Islamic Revolution of 1979 and subsequent events put a strain on Iran's relationship with the outside world, particularly the West, leading to sanctions and a decline in tourism and trade. Yet early in 2016 the Lausanne Accord over Iran's nuclear program, and then national elections resulting in greater reformist representation in Iran's Parliament have greatly increased the country's attractiveness to outsiders, with travelers and business people once more setting their sights on Iran.

The Guide offers visitors to Iran scholarly and readable introductions to:

* Zoroaster, Cyrus, Darius & Alexander

* Shi'a Islam, religious art and architecture

* The complexities of Iran's fraught

relationship with Israel

* Persepolis, Pasargdae, Esfahan & Shiraz

* Ferdowsi, Attar and Hafez

* Iranian film, food & music

* UNESCO World Heritage sites

* 464 pages, 133 color photos

* 17 easy-to-use maps