Show Notes
Down with the Qajars. Long Live Reza Shah.
Listen to new chapters from January 29th.
As we’re recording this, Iran is experiencing a wide range of issues.
Both internal turmoil and external conflicts.
But the fascinating thing about this statement is that it doesn’t matter when you’re listening to this podcast. It could be a week from now, a month, or even years.
No matter the time, the above sentence will hold as much truth then as it has now.
Iran is a rather peculiar place. A country with over 2000 years of history that has always been at the center of world events. From the days of the Achaemenid empire and the Persian wars with the Greeks to their Islamic revolution of 1979 and their constant conflict with the West.
Yet, despite this vast history, for many Iranians, no era looms as large as the Pahlavi dynasty. Despite being one of the shortest reigns in Persia’s long history, its legacy remains embedded in the nation’s collective memory.
The last true dynasty to rule Iran.
In book two of The Lion and the Sun, we turn our focus to the Pahlavi dynasty and its founder. A man who rose from obscurity, dismantled an ancient monarchy, and declared himself king; establishing a new order under his name.
Loved by some and reviled by others, his influence on the nation is undeniable, shaping its modern identity.
This season, we delve into the life of Reza Shah: his meteoric rise to power, the sweeping changes he brought to Iran, his ruthless pragmatism and his ultimate demise.
The second season of The Lion and the Sun begins on January 29 and new chapters will be released every other week.
You can listen to season one here or on all podcast platforms.
Follow us on Instagram, TikTok or X (Twitter). For early access to episodes, become a supporter on Patreon.
The post Book Two Trailer appeared first on The Lion and The Sun Podcast.
More from The Lion and The Sun: A Modern History of Iran
With British warships looming off Abadan and an economic war squeezing Iran, Britain drags the oil dispute before the United Nations, and Mosaddegh crosses the ocean to fight it himself.
With nationalization signed and Mosaddegh in office, Britain cuts off Iran’s oil exports and moves warships into the Gulf. Secret documents expose decades of political interference, American mediation fails, and Iran finds itself in a standoff it cannot easily win.
Failed negotiations, assassination, and a vote that changed Iran’s history. As pressure builds and compromise collapses, Mohammad Mosaddegh leads a united nation towards oil nationalization.
Iran’s oil had enriched Britain and left its workers in shanty towns. When a deadly strike erupts and the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company refuses to yield, a veteran constitutionalist steps forward to fight for control of the nation’s oil.
As Cold War tensions rise, Iran and the United States become unlikely allies. After surviving an assassination attempt, Mohammad Reza Shah moves to consolidate power and reshape Iran’s political order.