The 1979 Iranian Revolution
Also known as the “Islamic Revolution,” the Iranian Revolution of 1979 forever changed the fate of Iran. At the time, the revolution was considered unusual. Iran was once the world’s oldest empire. That all came to an end when the monarchy was toppled, following an uprising in the country between 1978 and 1979. By national referendum, Iran became an Islamic republic. Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, fled the country in January. Meanwhile, politician and cleric Khomeini became the supreme leader of the country in December 1979.