The Lion and The Sun: A Modern History of Iran Oriana Coburn

How a religious ban on tobacco jump started the fight for Persia's democracy. The story of the Qajar dynasty, their attempt at auctioning Persia's resources and how Iranians came together to fight foreign influence and protect their right to smoke.

What can you do when the king is assassinated, prices are high and the country is in crisis? You demand a parliament. The story of how Persia's first national assembly (Majlis) was established and how democracy found its way into Iran.

What comes after establishing democracy in a nation? Protecting it at all costs.



In this episode, the ideals of democracy clash with the limitations of Islam and the new Shah maneuvers to undermine the parliament's authority, even as the people take to the streets to defend their hard-won freedoms.

The battle for Iran's constitutional democracy rages on as the reactionary forces of Mohammad Ali Shah lay siege to the Parliament. In the aftermath of brutal bombardment, pockets of resistance emerge across the nation. Amidst chaos and bloodshed, the very soul of Iran hangs in the balance. Who will prevail in this defining struggle for the future of the nation?

Two constitutionalist armies arrive at the gates of Tehran and Mohammad Ali Shah prepares the capital of Iran for an all-out war. How battle of Tehran reshaped the future of democracy in Iran and how the country was forced to change in its aftermath.

An old king tries to reclaim his throne, the United States sends Morgan Shuster to help Iran's finances, and Russia invades. The complicated history of Iran and Russia and how the Russian influence impacted Iran's democracy.