The Iranian Revolution (1978) changed Iran from a monarchy under the rule of Mohammad Reza Shah to an Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini.

In 2009, hundreds of thousands of Iranians, outraged at the reelection of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, took to the streets in protest.

There are a number of reasons that have been put forth for the Shah of Iran's loss of rule. They include the notion that he was a puppet of the West, his 1974 economic reform plan was a failure, his lack of good health due to cancer, and the inability of the Shah to notice the threat during its early stages.

By contrast the Ayatollah's victory can be attributed to his ability to win the left wing Muslims to his cause, his personal charisma and ability to create his image as a savior, and his playing into the growing view of the Shah as an American puppet.

• Wikipedia: Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line
• The Guardian: "Children of the Revolution" (2006)
• New York Times: "Iran President Facing Revival of Students' Ire" (2006)
• TIME: "From the Campus to the Street" (1979)

• Wikipedia: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
• Prophet of Doom: Little Green Book
• The New York Sun: "He Knew He Was Right" (2006)
• Fordham University: "The Uprising of Khurdad 15" (1979)

• 1941: British and Russian forces, during World War II, place Muhammad Reza Pahlavi in power as Shah

• 1953: "Operation Ajax" overthrows Mohammed Mossadeq

• 1961: Husain Borujerdi dies, leaving a power gap that will be filled by Ruhollah Khomeini

• 1962: Ruhollah Khomeini organizes opposition against the Shah

• 1963: The Shah organizes the "White Revolution" and arrests Khomeini

• 1963: Opposition to the Khomeini arrest leads to the Movement of 15 Khordad

• 1964: Khomeini is released from prison

• 1965: Ruhollah Khomeini begins travels through Turkey and Iraq

• 1978: January 5, An article by Daryoush Homayoun attacking Khomeini causes a massive protest in Qom

• 1978: February 18, Protests in reaction to those killed in Qom break out, leading to more deaths

• 1978: August 6, After months of demonstrations and deaths, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhamm

• 1978: September 8, With violence unabated, the Shah declares martial law on "Black Friday"

• 1978: September 24, The Iraqi government bans Ruhollah Khomeini from political activities

• 1978: October 10, Ruhollah Khomeini takes exile in

• 1978: October 16, In response to "Black Friday," many people go on stike

• 1978: October 19, Oil workers go on strike

• 1978: November 4, Riots break out and are allowed to reign free

• 1978: December 29, Muhammad Reza Shah, the last of the Pahlavi dynasty prepares to leave Iran

• 1979: January 12, The Revolutionary Council is formed by Khomeini and his supporters

• 1979: February 1, Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Iran

• 1979: Febraury 11, After bitter fighting with those loyal to the Regime, Khomeini's Revolution takes control

• 1979: April 1, The Islamic Republic is officially established

• Iran Chamber Society: Iran After the Victory of 1979's Revolution
• Reason Magazine: "The Next Iranian Revolution" (2007)
• BBC News: "Looking Back at Iran's Revolution" (2002)
• San Francisco State University: "Iranian Revolution Turned Against Women Who Supported It" (1995)

• Wikipedia: Zbigniew Brzezinski
• CNN: " Brzezinski: U.S. in Danger of 'Stampeding' to War With Iran" (2007)
• Payvand's Iran News: "What Really Happed to the Shah of Iran" (2006)
• Los Angeles Times: "Been There, Done That" (2006)

• Moojan Momen: The Religious Background of the 1979 Revolution in Iran
• TIME: "How Iran's Revolution Created 'Muslim Lite'" (2006)
• Iran Analysis Quarterly: "Islamic Forces of the Iranian Revolution" (2004)
• Wikipedia: Ideology of the Iranian Revolution
• Mexico State University: "Islam and Education in Modern Iran" (2002)

• New York Times: Special Report: The CIA in Iran
• Wikipedia: United States-Iran Relations
• CNN: "Iranian Guard 'Ready to Defend Revolution'" (2007)
• New York Times: " U.S. and Iran in Accord on 2,500 Small Claims" (1990)

• Wikipedia: Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution
• Council on Foreign Relations: "Iran's Revolutionary Guards" (2007)

• Radio Free Europe: "Paramilitary Force Prepares For Urban Unrest" (2005)
• NPR: "Iran Basij Marks 25 Years" (2004)

• William Patterson University: "Revisiting Foucault and the Iranian Revolution" (2004)
• In Defense of Marxism: "The History of the Undefeated" (1995)
• New York Review of Books: "Islamic Revolution: An Exchange" (1988)
• In Defense of Marxism: "The Iranian Revolution" (1979)
• University of Chicago Press: "What Are the Iranians Dreaming About?" (1978)
• Google Books: The Dynamics of the Iranian Revolution

• Wikipedia: Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
• Iran Chamber Society: Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi
• YouTube: Shah of Iran Talking About His Popularity Among the Iranians (Time 01:22)

• Wikipedia: Movement 15 of Khordad
• Red Bolivia: "15 Khordad Movement, uprising against arrest of Imam Khomeini" (2007)
• Persian Journal: "Rafsanjani Hails 15th Khordad Uprising" (2004)