Iran: A thriving modern society before 1979 revolution [photo essay]

By

Sait Serkan Gurbuz

-

Jan 10, 2020

People crossing city crosswalk in front of cars (© Roy Essoyan/AP Images) — A busy Tehran street in June 1970. (© Roy Essoyan/AP Images)

The Islamic Republic imposes strict rules on Iranian life. Here are photos of Iranian society prior to the 1979 revolution.

Two women sitting by wall with many photos (© Mario De Biasi/Mondadori/Getty Images) — Two young women in Tehran in 1956 relish their resemblance to famous Iranian actresses. (© Mario De Biasi/Mondadori/Getty Images)

People on city street lined with businesses (© Mario De Biasi/Mondadori/Getty Images) — Iranian men and women enjoy a stroll along a busy commercial strip in 1950s Tehran. (© Mario De Biasi/Mondadori/Getty Images)

Woman using sewing machine (© Mario De Biasi/Mondadori/Getty Images) — Young seamstresses busy at work in a Tehran shop in 1956. (© Mario De Biasi/Mondadori/Getty Images)

Girls in uniform walking together (© AFP/Getty Images) — Iranian schoolgirls during a visit from the French prime minister in May 1968. (© AFP/Getty Images)

Man reading from book to class of male students (© Dmitri Kessel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) — Iranian students attend a lecture offered by the U.S. Information and Education Service in 1951. (© Dmitri Kessel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Two girls looking through door's window with text on it (© Dmitri Kessel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) — Young Iranian girls wait outside a library of the U.S. Information and Education Service in 1951. (© Dmitri Kessel/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images)

Three women in colorful clothing (© AFP/Getty Images) — Iranian women wear traditional dress in October 1971. (© AFP/Getty Images)

Couple and child sitting with food containers on rug (© Paul Almasy/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images) — A family gathers for a ceremony celebrating Nowruz, the Iranian New Year. (© Paul Almasy/Corbis/VCG/Getty Images)