The Persians: A History of Iran

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.

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.

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.