The document provides historical background information about Persepolis, the setting of Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel. It discusses that Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the ancient Persian Empire and an architectural marvel until its destruction in 331 BCE. It was a source of Iranian national pride, which is why Satrapi chose it as the title. The document also summarizes key people and events in modern Iranian history referenced in the graphic novel, including the Islamic Revolution of 1979 when Iran became a theocratic republic.

1. Aim: What is the Historical
context of Persepolis?
• Do Now: Take out Persepolis and open up
to your notes on the Introduction
• HW- Read Chapters 1-2 (The Veil and
Bicycle) for Monday
• ****Reading Check******

2. Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis:
Background Information

3. Persepolis is set in Iran in the 1980s

4. Persepolis
• Persepolis or Takht-é Jamshid
was the ceremonial capital of
the Achaemenid (Persian)
Empire.
• Was built in about 500 BCE by
Kings Darius, Xerxes and their
successors.
• The site of Persepolis is very
large, over 125,000 meters.
• The original Persepolis stood
on a platform about 10 meters
higher than the surrounding
plains.
• Destroyed by Alexander the
Great at 331 BCE.

7. Why did Satrapi choose Persepolis
as the title of her graphic novel?
• Represents wealth and
might of the Persian
empire.
• Also represents feats of
engineering, art and
architecture.
• Pinnacle of world
architecture at the time.
• Great source of Iranian
national and historical
pride.

8. Other allusions in Persepolis:
Zarathustra/ Zoroastrianism
• Zarathustra/ Zoraster: a Persian
poet and philosopher born between
the 18th and 10th century BCE.
• Zoroastrianism: a religion that
believes in a creator (Mazda), good
and evil, and the purifying powers of
water and fire.
• Belief that active participation in life
through good thoughts, words, and
deeds brings happiness and keeps
away chaos. Was the national
religion for many Iranian people for
many centuries.
• Alexander’s invasion (331 BCE) and
the introduction of Islam (637-651
AD) led to its decline.

9. Other allusions in Persepolis:
Modern Iranian History:
Reza Shah Pahlavi (1878-1944)
• Shah of the Imperial State of Iran
from 1925 to 1941
• Britain and USSR were
concerned about his friendly
relations with Germany-invaded
and overtook large amounts of
land in Iran until he was forced to
abdicate the throne in 1941.
• He brought many socio-economic
reforms, government reforms,
and modern amenities to Iran.
• He’s considered the father of
modern Iran by many.
• His son took over the throne in
his place

10. Other allusions in Persepolis: Modern
Iranian History:
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi (1919-1980)
• Ruled Iran 1941 until the Iranian Revolution in
1979—often called “The Shah”
• The British-Soviet invasion forced his father
to give up his throne, and placed him in the
throne instead.
• Iranian oil was nationalized under his rule and
the prime ministership of Mohammad
Mossadeq.
• He was often indecisive and was considered a
“puppet” leader of US and Britain
• Was a secular Muslim and lost support from
the Shi'a clergy of Iran due to his policies of
modernization and secularizationand his
recognition of Israel.
• Extended land reform, voting rights for
women, and worked to eliminate illiteracy
• Liberals feared his government took too much
control from a democracy; conservatives
disliked his secular laws

11. Other allusions in Persepolis: Modern
Iranian History:
Mohammad Mossadeq (1882 –1967)
• Democratically elected Prime
Minister of Iran from 1951 to
1953 when he was overthrown
in a coup d'état backed by the
CIA (and supported by the
Shah)
• He made efforts to nationalize
Iranian oil, which had previously
been under the control of the
British. Thus, the British asked
CIA to step in to regain control
of oil.
• This plan was successful, and
until the 1979 revolution, oil
remained in the hands of Britain
and the US.

12. Other allusions in Persepolis:
Modern Iranian History:
Islamic Revolution (of 1979)
• Demonstrations and strikes against the Shah began in 1977
and were partly secular and partly religious (the left & right).
• In 1979, the Shah left Iran for exile, and there was a power
vacuum for two weeks.
• Throughout 1979, Iran voted by national referendum to
become an Islamic Republic and to approve a new
theocratic constitution whereby Ayatollah Khomeini became
Supreme Leader of the country (highest ranking political and
religious authority).
• The revolution produced profound change at great speed.
• In the 1980s, Iranian immigration to the US increased by
74%. Many of these Iranian immigrants were opposed to the
changes in their country.

13. Current Iranian leaders
Pop Quiz…
• Does anyone know who the
president of Iran is today?
• Does anyone know who he
succeeded (who was
president before him?)

14. The answer is…
 President
Hassan
Rouhani
 Former
President
Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad

15. More allusions in Persepolis:
• Revolutionaries: Che Guevara,
Fidel Castro, Ataturk, Gandhi.
• Intellectuals: Karl Marx
(Communist Manifesto),
Descartes (I think, therefore I
am).
• Texts: Dialectic Materialism
(its thesis: every economic
order grows to a state of
maximum efficiency, while at
the same time developing
internal contradictions or
weaknesses that contribute to
its decay).

16. Islam in Persepolis
• Satrapi comes from a secular
family involved in socialist
movements in Iran not happy
about Islamic revolution.
• Persepolis is a memoir of her
childhood, and at times pokes
fun at Islamic practices: hijab
(wearing the veil) and self-
flagellation during holidays.
• As explained in the book, as a
young child, she didn’t
understand these practices.
• I want to make a point that
wearing hijab is not a joke and
jokes of this nature are
offensive.
• At the same time, Satrapi’s
point about the lack of religious
freedom in post-revolutionary
Iran is noteworthy.

17. Other Possible Objections…
• This book, like all non-fiction texts, is one
woman’s perspective and opinion about the
events that took place during the Iranian
Revolution—it is NOT agreed upon by everyone
and is offensive to some.
• Possible offensive moments in the book:
– Graphic image of Allah in opening chapters
– Self-flagellation scenes
– Mocking of the hijab
– Prison torture/urination scene