From the earliest days of the Persian Empire to its decline in the 19th century, this gripping narrative chronicles the tumultuous history of Iran. Benjamin's engaging prose and sharp insights provide a nuanced portrait of a complex and vibrant culture, full of intrigue, conflict, and beauty.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.