F o r e w o r d
"We were Iranians working together, sharing knowledge, talents, and skills to achieve common goals."
The Coronation of Reza Shah Pahlavi on April 5, 1926 augured a new and revolutionary era for Iran, whose national independence and territorial integrity had been severely compromised throughout the nineteenth and and early twentieth centuries by a combination of foreign forces and domestic intrigues, determined to keep the country in a state of anarchy and subservience.
The advent of Reza Shah the Great marked an historical milestone in Iran's social, political and cultural evolution. From the very beginning of his reign, Reza Shah not only gave firm and courageous leadership, but also infused in his countrymen an unprecedented sense of patriotism and national purpose. Consequently, within a short period of time and against all odds, Iran had regained its national independence and overhelmed those pernicious foreign and domestic influences which had for long endeavoured to undermine the nation's unity and progress.
Although the second World War and the invasion of neutral Iran by Soviet and British forces temporarily checked the country's rapid development, Iran was once again fortunate to have a monarch who, like his father, was determined to lead the country to new heights of political, social and economic progress.
His son, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, the last Shahanshah of Iran, through resolute leadership restored a sense of confidence in his countrymen and initiated a series of radical and far-reaching reforms which transformed every aspect of Iran's national life. As a result, the country was rapidly approaching an era where it was about to enter the ranks of the world's most progressive and developed nations. In 1979 a monkey wrench was thrown into the turning wheels of development and progress came to an abrupt stop for a long time.
The main purpose of this site is not the one of analyzing in great details all the numerous achievements of the Pahlavi Era and project them onto the Internet; rather , it is the one of filling a void and providing the reader with a needed overall view of Iran during that progressive era. Our intention is not the one of putting a new coat of paint upon Iran's history but just to show, as they were, the exciting challenges and prospects of that peaceful and constructive time. Were these the infrastructure of dreams? Only time can tell. Yet, it is our earnest hope that in this age of growing information technology the "Pahlavi Era" site will provide through its many sections and related topics with new material added regularly, a refreshing, useful and stimulating outline to all those interested in Iran's past era of remarkable progress, peace and performance.