The Persians: A History of Iran

Samira Ahmed starts her epic trek through Persia's rich history at a 3,000-year-old temple. It's the first of many staggering sights, few of which have been seen by anyone outside Iran. While the nation now seems decidedly inward looking, she reveals the cultural exchange that has defined the region for millennia. How did Persia become a vast empire that was the envy of the ancient world?

From Zoroastrian Fire Temples burning for thousands of years, to the fabled bazaars of Aladdin, and a magical storybook that became Iran's national myth, Samira Ahmed reveals why Iran isn't Arab at all. It has proudly held onto its Persian identity, art and literature to this day, while other Middle Eastern nations lost their own. How was it able to shrug off the influence of its conquerers?

Samira Ahmed heads to the crumbling ruins of an ancient walled city and travels back to the time when Persia faced its gravest threat: Genghis Khan. But from the death and destruction this wrought, a golden age of Persian poetry and art emerged. Through waves of invasion, attack and foreign influence, the spirit of the region thrived. How was Persia able to successfully hang onto its culture?