History Article.
Nitin
Emergence of Culture and Civilization
Genuine history is the account of culture and civilization, not the
description of wars,
conquests and military or political dominance. The Iranian nation takes
pride in achievements
made over the course of history in the development and evolution of human
culture and
civilization and the dissemination of science, art and literature.
Throughout history Iran has always been one of the renowned centers of
science, industries
and fine arts. Centuries before the advent of Christianity, the land was
the cradle of superior
scientists and artists who have made remarkable contributions to science
and East-West
cultures and civilizations.
In the contemporary epoch, the question worthy of consideration is the
growing importance of
the western world, leading some historians to point at Europe as the
center harboring the
emergence of culture and civilization. In the 7000-year history of mankind
since it acquired
civilization in the present sense, it has been only in the past half a
millennium since the
western world assumed its current importance and credit. It is in view of
this newly-found
recognition that the interpretations and opinions of some European
historians regarding the
civilization of other nations has been sometimes accepted with no
questions asked.
An unbiased and careful study of the world history demonstrates that the
western world's
present civilization originates from the East, with Iran playing a most
important role. Most
impartial historians, orientalogists and archeologists specializing in
human culture and
civilization or informed about excavations in Iran, are unanimous about
the antiquity of the
Iranian culture and its impact on the development of western culture. The
Eastern civilization
found its way to the West particularly via Iran.
Perhaps it would be most appropriate to describe
the
significance of Iran in terms of ancient culture
and civilization
quoting experts other than those of Iran. Following
are the
statements made by some prominent historians from
around the
world:
The English historian Renest Herzfeld tells in his
book titled "An
Examination of Iranian Arts" that the plateau in
the eastern part of
Mesopotamia, i.e. Iran, possessed an advanced
civilization
during the last stage of the Stone Age in the 5th
millennium B.C.
The people of the Iranian plateau were sufficiently
versed with
agricultural information. They were the first
people to engage in
agriculture in its present sense of the word and
such a
know-how was passed on from the Iranian plateau to the Sand Valley,
Transoxiana and
Mesopotamia.
The American historian, Arthure Pope argues in his book that agriculture,
metalworks,
religious and philosophical ideas, the science of numbers, astronomy and
mathematics
originated from a region nowadays called the Middle East and the roots of
many of these
cultural matters goes back to the Iranian plateau. He says, "Art is a gift
given by Iranians to
the world. Iran has a high share compared with other countries in the
dissemination of arts in
other parts of the world.
British historian Andre Godar writes in his book "The Art of Iran" that
Iran was superior to
other countries in the architectural art which has been an element of
artistic advancement
and evolution in periods of history.
Also, Danish archeologists who worked on the excavation of Lorestan's
Kouran hill have
argued that in view of the discoveries made there it can be deducted that
the people of this
region were fully familiar with agricultural techniques 7000 B.C.
The French historian Rene Grousset tells in one of his books dealing with
the Iranian arts and
culture: It must be acknowledged that mankind owes a lot to Iran since
with its powerful and
yet delicate culture developed over centuries Iran has served as a means
of understanding
and harmony between nations. Iranian literature has been inspired by human
perfection and
the eternity of thought and speech. It has produced works that have
enriched the world as
much as the Greek and Roman literature.
The French historian K. Ransiman, in his book dealing with the Iranian
influence in Europe's
civilization writes, "It can be said with certainty that in general there
are no branches of the
European industry and art that have not been influenced or affected by
Sassanid -era
impressions. Eastern arts that are the source of so much honor and pride
could never have
advanced in the absence of the Iranians' contribution and cooperation."
In her book "The History of Iran's Industry", the English historian
Christy Willson tells, "In the
design of industries Iran is a guidance for the whole world. The talent
and the leadership of
Iran in the world of industry has the unquestioned approval of experts.
Industry is the most
basic, most important and most precious service by Iranians to the global
civilization."
A. Von Lecok, the Dutch historian, calls Iranians as the front-runners in
world civilization in his
book "The Treasures Buried in China's Turkistan".
"Iranians were the first nation to establish a worldwide empire to spread
a spirit of liberty and
justice earlier unknown to the mankind, " says Prof. Girshman in his book
"From the
Beginning to Islam".
His statement is supported by an inscription issuing the first human
rights declaration which
dates back to the rule of Cyrus the Great. A source of pride for the
Iranian history, a sample of
this inscription is installed at the UN.
http://www.iraninternational.com/issue_3/role-of-iranian.htm