Many great moments in civilization happened when cultures of the Far East, interacted with those in the West.  Through all those moments, there was one region which sat between them, one which was always happy to be in the middle, mediating and facilitating exchange of culture, goods, and cusine. That region is Iran!

Persia, Parthia, Elam.  It has gone by many other names through its history, but the Iranian Plateau has always been the great nexus between East and West.

Come for the flatbreads, stay (a couple thousands years) for the rice!

Music for this episode performed by Dariush Talai

Science Magazine – Emergence of Agriculture in the Foothills of the Zagros Mountains in Iran

Oxford Handbooks – Taxation in the Achaemenid Empire

The Creation of Inequality: How Our Prehistoric Ancestors Set the Stage for Monarchy, Slavery, and Empire

Zoroastrian Heritage Blog – Achaemenian Persian King’s Table

Health and Fitness History – Ancient Persian Nutrition

The Unmanly Chef – History of Food in Iran

Encyclopedia Britannica – Ancient Iran