Art of Persia

Broadcaster and journalist Samira Ahmed takes viewers on a remarkable journey to places rarely seen as she travels through Iran to tell the story of its complex and fascinating people, culture and history. She begins by visiting places rarely seen by Western audiences to reveal how the Persian empire was born, the mysterious writing of its early people and how its powerful kings built a vast realm that became the envy of the ancient world.

Samira Ahmed takes viewers on a remarkable journey to places rarely seen, as she travels through Iran telling the story of a complex and fascinating people, culture and history.

After the Arab conquest of Persia in 651 AD, Samira tells the remarkable account of the clash between two powerful civilisations, and why Iran is the only country in the Middle East to preserve its language and culture.

From Zoroastrian Fire Temples, to the fabled bazaars of Aladdin, to an ancient magical storybook that became Iran's national myth, this second episode reveals how Iran has proudly held onto its Persian identity, art and literature to this day.

In this last episode, Samira Ahmed travels to the crumbling ruins of an ancient walled city and goes back to when Persia faced her gravest threat: Genghis Khan.

But from the death and destruction, emerged a golden age of Persian poetry and art. In the fabled city of Isfahan, Samira encounters the dynasty of Shahs that succeeded the Mongols - The Safavids, who gave Iran a powerful new identity through Shia Islam and carved its message in stone, brick and tile.

Finally Samira travels to Persepolis, to tell the story of Iran's last Shah and his ill-fated attempt to link his dynasty to Persia's ancient kings, with momentous consequences for the world.