Harrowing Story, Long Journey Home

As a follow-up to my story of an American acquaintance, Emad Shargi, who was freed from Iran after five-and-a-half years as a hostage, and the incredibly strong PR-media advocacy of his family to push the Biden Administration for his release -- on Substack, I posted a post-release profile of Shargi and his family from "60 …

Strong Advocacy for American Hostages in Iran May Set Standard for Humanitarian Diplomacy

Emad Shargi, the father of my son Alex’s high school classmate Hannah at the American Community School in Abu Dhabi, UAE, has been freed from Iran after a 5 1/2 year ordeal. His family’s story became a high-profile symbol of the international trend of governments taking hostages to win policy concessions. Shargi’s captivity sparked the …

When Did Persia Become Iran?

History Matters, 10-Minute History: Answer: 1935. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoyctsgMwq0

5 Recently Produced Historical Movies Worth Watching

With the advent of streaming services, international or foreign films are no longer the exclusive reserve of specialty theaters in big cities or college towns. Amazon Prime now has five historical dramas by South Korean, Russian, German, Indian and Malaysian filmmakers that can transport viewers to other nations and time-periods. HistorySpark recommends five historical dramas …

Persia/Iran: A BBC History

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umWDb9rIyLo BBC Select: "Persia, the world's first empire, has a complex past. In this fascinating series, journalist Samira Ahmed visits historical and cultural sites across Iran that few westerners have ever seen. Focusing on the rich artistic legacy of the region, she looks at literature, painting and ancient structures to relay a tale of power …

Ottoman/Turkish Empire Grew Out of Nomadic Seljik Empire

The Turkic people originated in central Asia near Mongolia. Like the Mongols, they were highly skilled at war in the 10th and 11th centuries, particularly in their use of horses, bows, arrows and swords. They could fire the bow in any direction while riding a horse at any speed. They felt no need to hold …

Like ‘Dark Ages’, The Medieval World Is Reconsidered

Common usage of the term "medieval" seems to equate it with "crude, violent, barbaric"; "backwards"; "savage," and "the dark ages." But Sarah McNamer, a self-described medievalist and professor of English and Medieval Studies at Georgetown University, has taken The Washington Post to task for incorrectly using the word. "It is manifestly false that the medieval …

Shah of Iran: Amazing Parties, Western Decadence, and Eventual Downfall in the 1970s

This vintage BBC documentary tells the story of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, who ruled the country from 1941 until he was overthrown in 1979. As a young man, he took over from his father, Reza Shah, who was considered too friendly to the Nazis by the allied powers, Britain and Russia, …

How Laws of Supply and Demand Change History: Crash Course Economics

As you probably know, laws of supply and demand are a basic principle of economics. Prices fluctuate based on the supply and demand of a product or service. This concept can determine your choice of career, your salary as well as your monthly budget. Sudden changes in the supply and demand can wreck your life …

Pre-Islamic Arabia: What Was It Like Before Muhammad?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDjjp4Nf73I Pre-Islamic Arabia was "a hot arid desert, sandwiched between two great rivaling empires," asserts Al Muqaddimah in a series of videos. The two great empires nearby were the Byzantine (Greek) or Eastern Roman Empire and the Persian (Iranian) Empire. Noting that there are few online videos on Islamic history -- "even Crash Course has …