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How did Reza Shah transform Tehran during the 1930s?
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Tehran
Mosque with cupola in the bazaar, Tehran.
During the 1930s, Reza Shah implemented a radical urban transformation program in Tehran to symbolize his vision of a modernized, unified, and politically conformist nation.1
Key changes to the city included:
- Urban Restructuring: The city’s traditional walls and gates were demolished to facilitate expansion in all directions.1
- Infrastructure: A network of wide streets was cut through the existing urban fabric, creating an open, uniform matrix designed to ease vehicle movement and the transport of goods.1
- Governmental Shift: The old royal compound was fragmented and replaced by a new government quarter, while new royal palaces were constructed to reflect the status of the Pahlavi dynasty.1
These physical changes were part of a broader effort to replace the country's history of tribal strife and bureaucratic shortcomings with an emphasis on cultural homogeneity and centralized state control.1