Lecture 10 9 24 ANTH205 BASSERI OF IRAN IRAN o Over 100 nomadic tribes today o 1 5 million nomads o Shi a Islam is the official religion of Iran BASSERI o Population around 16 000 o Sheep and Goat Herders o Inhabit desert and steppe land o Share land with agriculturalists dependent on irrigation o SUBSISTENCE Reliance on milk and dairy products meat and bread which must be traded for Men act as shepherds all take part in milking Camp is moved every few days along IL RAH or TRIBAL ROAD Each TENT can be nutritionally self sufficient o MARRIAGE Premarital sex is strictly prohibited Marriage arranged without strong consideration of desires of couple Couple are provided gifts by both sides to begin own family tent Grooms can immediately dissolve relationship upon evidence of bridal sheets o POLITICAL STRUCTUR Single Head Chief Determining routes and timing Disputes Dealing with non basseri o RELIGION Shi a Muslim but casually so No formal worshipping gatherings Known for relative lack of ceremony and expressive culture Movement as ceremony o SEDENTARIZATION Nomadic populations create challenges for modern governments Schooling for children Medical care Census taking and taxation Property rights Nomadic people typically reluctant to give up freedom of movement IRAN o Means LAND OF THE ARYANS o Formerly known as Persia E g Battle of Thermopylae fame o History of urban settlements going back some 5 000 years o Ruled as monarchy from 1501 to mid 1900s o Currently an Islamic republic with elected officials IRAN US RELATIONS o American Exceptionalism pretty much is the idea that America is unique and promoted the concept of manifest destiny o AMERICA WAS THE FIRST TO START Religious Destiny Technological Advancement Diversity 1st Successful Rebellion 1st Democracy o During WW2 UK and USSR invade set up Ally Friendly Shah KING and a constitutional monarchy o Anglo Iranian Oil Company had been extracting oil since early 1900s o After the assassination of a West friendly PM in 1951 new populist PM Mohammad Mossadeq favored oil nationalization o UK asked for US support in covertly facilitating coup d etat o US agreed on condition o Pro west Shah became increasingly autocratic o Economic hardships and increasing westernization alienated much of the traditional poorer population o Islamic Revolution of 1979 o o o o o o o o o o Ayatollah Khomeini Islamic Republic Iran Hostage Crisis Sadaam Hussein abruptly invades Iran over previous border disputes Iraq is supported by many Western countries Iraq employs chemical weapons Iraq and Iran both lose 250 500 000 soldiers civilians each Islamic Republic maintains strong control over population throughout 80 s Relations stabilize somewhat with US in 90 s Iran condemns 9 11 attacks but oppose Afghanistan and Iraq wars Currently maintain strong anti western sentiment Seemingly less so among Concern that civilian nuclear energy program is front for nuclear weapons In Feb 2010 announced uranium enriched to 20 for medical isotopes 09 24 2013 09 24 2013