Seyed Mohammad Houshialsadat is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Tehran

• Preface Prologue Literature Review Theoretical Framework Note on Transliteration and Dates Structure Chapter 1: Ancient Iran’s Relations in the Middle East Introduction The Elamite: Dawn of Iran The Median Kingdom: Winds of change in Persia The Achaemenid Empire: Pax Iranica The Seleucid Empire: The West against the East The Arsacid Empire: Rise of Iranshahr The Sassanid Empire: Revival of Iranshahr Conclusion Chapter 2: Medieval Iran’s Relations in the Middle East Introduction The Umayyad Caliphate: The first Muslim empire The Abbāsid Caliphate: The golden age of. Islamic civilization The Mongol Ilkhanate Empire: A dual governance system The Timurid Empire: The last great nomadic empire Conclusion Chapter 3: Modern Iran’s Relations in the Middle East Introduction The Safavid Empire: The New Persian renaissance The Afshārid Empire: The Napoleonic symbol of Persia The Zand Dynasty: Struggle for power The Qājār Dynasty: Persia under the Great Game The Pahlavi Dynasty: Oil and army Conclusion Chapter 4: Post-Revolutionary Iran’s Relations in the Middle East Introduction Centre-oriented government: Islamic liberalism Ummah-oriented government: Islamic idealism Expediency-oriented government: Islamic pragmatism Peace-oriented government: Islamic democracy Justice-oriented government: Rebirth of Islamic idealism Moderate-oriented government: Islamic realism Conclusion Epilogue: Chronology Bibliography Index

Seyed Mohammad Houshialsadat is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Tehran

• Preface Prologue Literature Review Theoretical Framework Note on Transliteration and Dates Structure Chapter 1: Ancient Iran’s Relations in the Middle East Introduction The Elamite: Dawn of Iran The Median Kingdom: Winds of change in Persia The Achaemenid Empire: Pax Iranica The Seleucid Empire: The West against the East The Arsacid Empire: Rise of Iranshahr The Sassanid Empire: Revival of Iranshahr Conclusion Chapter 2: Medieval Iran’s Relations in the Middle East Introduction The Umayyad Caliphate: The first Muslim empire The Abbāsid Caliphate: The golden age of. Islamic civilization The Mongol Ilkhanate Empire: A dual governance system The Timurid Empire: The last great nomadic empire Conclusion Chapter 3: Modern Iran’s Relations in the Middle East Introduction The Safavid Empire: The New Persian renaissance The Afshārid Empire: The Napoleonic symbol of Persia The Zand Dynasty: Struggle for power The Qājār Dynasty: Persia under the Great Game The Pahlavi Dynasty: Oil and army Conclusion Chapter 4: Post-Revolutionary Iran’s Relations in the Middle East Introduction Centre-oriented government: Islamic liberalism Ummah-oriented government: Islamic idealism Expediency-oriented government: Islamic pragmatism Peace-oriented government: Islamic democracy Justice-oriented government: Rebirth of Islamic idealism Moderate-oriented government: Islamic realism Conclusion Epilogue: Chronology Bibliography Index

Seyed Mohammad Houshialsadat is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Tehran

• Preface Prologue Literature Review Theoretical Framework Note on Transliteration and Dates Structure Chapter 1: Ancient Iran’s Relations in the Middle East Introduction The Elamite: Dawn of Iran The Median Kingdom: Winds of change in Persia The Achaemenid Empire: Pax Iranica The Seleucid Empire: The West against the East The Arsacid Empire: Rise of Iranshahr The Sassanid Empire: Revival of Iranshahr Conclusion Chapter 2: Medieval Iran’s Relations in the Middle East Introduction The Umayyad Caliphate: The first Muslim empire The Abbāsid Caliphate: The golden age of. Islamic civilization The Mongol Ilkhanate Empire: A dual governance system The Timurid Empire: The last great nomadic empire Conclusion Chapter 3: Modern Iran’s Relations in the Middle East Introduction The Safavid Empire: The New Persian renaissance The Afshārid Empire: The Napoleonic symbol of Persia The Zand Dynasty: Struggle for power The Qājār Dynasty: Persia under the Great Game The Pahlavi Dynasty: Oil and army Conclusion Chapter 4: Post-Revolutionary Iran’s Relations in the Middle East Introduction Centre-oriented government: Islamic liberalism Ummah-oriented government: Islamic idealism Expediency-oriented government: Islamic pragmatism Peace-oriented government: Islamic democracy Justice-oriented government: Rebirth of Islamic idealism Moderate-oriented government: Islamic realism Conclusion Epilogue: Chronology Bibliography Index