|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlevi
Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlevi , 1919–80, shah of Iran (1941–79). Educated in Switzerland, he returned (1935) to Iran to attend the military academy in Tehran. He ascended the throne in 1941 after his father, Reza Shah Pahlevi , suspected of collaboration with the Germans, was deposed by British and Soviet troops. He narrowly escaped assassination (1949) by a member of the leftist Tudeh party, and in 1953 briefly fled the country after a clash with supporters of Muhammad Mussadegh . The shah launched (1963) a reform program with U.S. assistance called the "White Revolution," which included land redistribution among citizens, extensive construction, the promotion of literacy, and the emancipation of women, but wealth, emanating from the oil industry, was unequally distributed among Iranians and the clergy disapproved of his pro-Western policies. As popular discontent grew, particularly in the early 1970s, the shah became more repressive, calling upon his brutal secret police (SAVAK) to put down domestic strife. By 1978 demonstrations and unrest had become widespread. On Jan. 16, 1979, Shah Pahlevi fled the country; the exiled religious leader Ruhollah Khomeini returned to Iran and took control. When in Oct., 1979, Iranian extremists stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran, they demanded the shah in return for the American hostages being held in the embassy. The shah remained abroad and died in Egypt in 1980.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlevi." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlevi." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-MuhammdR.html "Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlevi." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-MuhammdR.html |
|
Pahlavi, Muhammad Reza Shah
Pahlavi, Muhammad Reza Shah (b. 26 Oct. 1919, d. 27 July 1980). Shah of Iran 1941–79 Born in Tehran, he succeeded his deposed father on 17 September 1941, and was subsequently anxious to avoid his predecessor's mistake of having been too reserved towards UK and US influence. Unfortunately, he ultimately went too far in this endeavour, when he came to rely predominantly on US aid against internal popular opposition to his secular reforms. Thus, he resisted the coup by Mussadeq and, after a brief period in exile (1953), returned to speed up a programme of comprehensive social, economic, and cultural reform. Known as the ‘White Revolution’, his measures redistributed some land, and sought to diversify industry through a generally ill-conceived attempt at industrialization. As these changes were designed less to bring about social peace, than to buttress the regime's corrupt allies in the military and among powerful landowners and other owners of capital, his reforms even increased domestic opposition, such as that led by Ayatollah Khomeini. He murdered thousands of political opponents each year, while tens of thousands suffered imprisonment and torture. He was finally unable to contain the unrest that had built up against him for so long, and was forced to flee the country on 16 January 1979. He ultimately settled in Egypt, comforted by his enormous wealth, amassed at the expense of his own people and kept secure in foreign bank accounts.
|
|
|
Cite this article
JAN PALMOWSKI. "Pahlavi, Muhammad Reza Shah." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAN PALMOWSKI. "Pahlavi, Muhammad Reza Shah." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-PahlaviMuhammadRezaShah.html JAN PALMOWSKI. "Pahlavi, Muhammad Reza Shah." A Dictionary of Contemporary World History. 2004. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-PahlaviMuhammadRezaShah.html |
|
Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi
Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (1919–1980) Shah of Iran (1941–79). The son of Reza PAHLAVI, he succeeded on the abdication of his father. After the fall of MUSSADEGH in 1953 he gained supreme power and with the aid of greatly increased oil revenues, embarked upon a policy of rapid social reform and economic development, while maintaining a regime of harsh repression. In 1962 he introduced a land reform programme to break landlord power. In 1979 he was deposed by a revolution led by the Islamic clergy, notably Ayatollah KHOMEINI, whose supporters were bitterly opposed to the pro-western regime of the Shah. He died in exile in Egypt.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-MuhammadRezaShahPahlavi.html "Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-MuhammadRezaShahPahlavi.html |
|
Pahlavi, Muhammad Reza
Pahlavi, Muhammad Reza (1919–80) Shah of Iran (1941–79), son of Reza Pahlavi. The westernization of Iran, combined with a repressive regime and worsening social inequalities, aroused strong discontent among religious fundamentalists and others. In 1979 a theocratic revolution, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, forced him into exile. He died in Egypt.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Pahlavi, Muhammad Reza." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Pahlavi, Muhammad Reza." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-PahlaviMuhammadReza.html "Pahlavi, Muhammad Reza." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-PahlaviMuhammadReza.html |
|
Muhammad Reza Pahlavi
Muhammad Reza Pahlavi See Pahlavi
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Muhammad Reza Pahlavi." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Muhammad Reza Pahlavi." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-MuhammadRezaPahlavi.html "Muhammad Reza Pahlavi." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-MuhammadRezaPahlavi.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
