Tehran (also known as Teheran) has comparatively short, but very fascinating history of turning from a small village into a metropolitan area populated by millions of people. Excavations place the existence of settlements in Tehran as far back as 6000 BC. The first mention of Tehran has been made in a work by the Greek Theodosius, who has mentioned Tehran as a suburb of Rey about 2000 B.C. In the 13th century, following the destruction of Rages by Mongols, many of its inhabitants fled to Tehran. It was selected as the capital of Iran in 1200 and since then has been the political, cultural, economical and commercial nucleus of the country.
The Tehran climate is warm during the summer and relatively cool during the winter months. The hottest months of the year are from mid-July to mid-September when temperatures range at an average of 28°C (82.4°F) - 30°C (86°F) and the coldest months experience a 1°C (33.8°F) temperature that is in December-January. Tehran's rainy season is between November and May, amount of annual rainfall is 8 inches.
Tehran is the economic centre of Iran. Despite numerous attempts to diversify the country's economy, it is dominated by the oil industry, controlled from Tehran by the national government. At the beginning of the 21st century, oil accounted for four-fifths of Iran's foreign exchange income. The country owned about one-tenth of the world reserves of crude oil. More than half of Iran's manufactured goods are produced in Tehran. Manufacturing industries include metal machinery and equipment, mining, chemicals, textiles, wood and paper.
In 2001 a metro system that had been in planning since the 1970s opened the first two of seven envisaged lines - even though the city is prone to earthquakes. Problems arising from the late completion of the metro led to buses taking on the role of the metro lines, serving mainly long distance routes. Tehran has an extensive bus system, including double-deckers; they are cheap and cover most of the city. Taxis are relatively inexpensive.
Primary and secondary education is mainly provided by the state, although there are some private schools. The five-year primary cycle covers grades 1-5 for children 6 to 11 years old and it is free and compulsory. Secondary education is divided into two main branches namely, academic (general) and technical (vocational). The grading system through all levels of education is based on a 20-point scale, with an A being worth four points and an F worth zero points. Higher education is provided by comprehensive universities, universities of technology, specialized universities, medical universities, teacher training centres and private institutions. The University of Tehran, also known as Tehran University and UT, is the oldest and largest university of Iran.
Tehran's attractions include many theaters, museums, parks and gardens. The oldest of the historic monuments in Tehran, the Golestan Palace (Palace of Flowers) belongs to a group of royal buildings that were once enclosed within the mud-thatched walls of Tehran's Historic Arg (citadel) which once glittered like a jewel. The Arg was built during the reign of Tahmasb I of the Safavid dynasty (1502-1736), and was later renovated by Karim Khan Zand. The Royal Court and Residence occupied more than one third of Arg, like traditional Iranian houses, had two interior and exterior quarters. The exterior quarters consisted of the administrative section of the royal court and a square shaped garden known as Golestan (rose garden).
Azadi Square and the Azadi Tower is a famous landmark in Tehran. Constructed of white marble in 1971 to commemorate the 2,500 anniversary of the Persian Empire, this graceful monument is the Gateway to Tehran. The 50 meters (148 feet) high Azadi tower which forms the main part of the museum and its architecture is a combination of Islamic and Sassanid architecture style. A mechanical conveyer allows the visitors to visit the hall in total comfort. Some art galleries and halls have been allocated to temporary fairs and exhibitions.
The National Museum, also known as Iran Bastan Museum, covers an area of 2,744 sq. m. This museum has a collection of pottery, ceramics, stone figures, books and publications in various languages, in the fields of Iranian art, archeology, history and also literature relative to the neighboring countries. The oldest artifacts in the museum are from Kashaf Rud and Ganj Par sites that date back to Lower Palaeolithic.
In Iran a bazaar is much more than just a place to stock up on a few essential shopping items. The maze of bustling alleys (where cartographers seem never to have fully conquered) and the bazaris (the men who run the stalls) make Tehran Bazar a fascinating, if somewhat daunting, place to explore. Traders have been hawking their wares on this site for nearly 1000 years, but most of what you can see is less than 200 years old.
