Reading: An article published by Payman Online about Yeprem Khan, an Armenian revolutionary who played a key role in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution.
In addition, students can find here a supplementary article exploring the broader role Armenians played in the Constitutional Revolution.
Listening: In this episode of an analytical program called Cheshmandaz (Iran International), the guests discuss the role of intellectuals and the clergy in the Constitutional Revolution of Iran.
Subject of Conversation: Should democracy be imported to the society from abroad or should it be the result of the natural growth of the society itself? (آیا دموکراسی باید از خارج به جامعه وارد شود یا باید نتیجهٔ رشد طبیعی خود جامعه باشد؟)
Students will engage in a discussion on whether democratic values should emerge organically within a society or be introduced from external influences. Using the context of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution, students will reflect on the role of local intellectuals, clergy, and foreign ideas in shaping political change. This conversation will encourage critical thinking while reinforcing key vocabulary related to governance, reform, and revolution history.
Homework:
- Please carefully read today’s main article and study the vocabulary.
- Watch at least half of the Cheshmandaz discussion and assess your level of comprehension.
- Choose 4 words or phrases from today’s vocabulary. For each one, write a Persian definition, an original sentence using the word in the context of the Constitutional Revolution and a short explanation (in Persian) of why the word is important in understanding the topic.
- Prepare for tomorrow’s discussion.
Vocabulary (Reading):
| Persian Word | Transcription | English Translation |
| مبارز | mobārez | fighter |
| استقرار | esteqrār | establishment, stabilization |
| مشروطیت | mašrutiyyat | Constitution, constitutionalism |
| صحیح النسب | sahiholnasab | of noble lineage, well-born |
| دیار (مفرد: دار) | diyār (sing. dār) | region(s), land(s) |
| ظلم ستیز | zolmsetiz | anti-oppression, oppression-fighting |
| تظلم‌خواهی | tazallomxāhi | appeal for justice, justice-seeking |
| ستم | setam | oppression |
| تبعید شدن | tab‘id šodan | to be exiled |
| ثقیل بودن | saqil budan | to be heavy, to be indigestible |
| مجاهد | mojāhed | fighter, struggler |
| مشروطه‌خواه | mašrutexāh | constitutionalist |
| زدودن | zodudan | to cleanse, to eliminate |
| محوری | mehvari | central, pivotal |
| ضد استبدادی | zedd-e estebdādi | anti-despotic |
| وافری شدن | vāferi šodan | to become abundant |
| تمجید | tamjid | praise |
| توپ | tup | cannon |
| شیوه | šive | method, manner |
| جای دادن | jāy dādan | to place, to house |
| تعصب | ta'assob | fanaticism, prejudice |
| غرض | γaraz | intent, bias, motive |
| در قیاس | dar qiyās-e | in comparison to |
| وصف | vasf | description, quality |
| داوری | dāvari | judgment, arbitration |
| ضد و نقیض | zedd o naqiz | contradicting, contradictory |
| بی‌خاصیت | bixāssiyat | mediocre, virtueless |
| بالطبع | bettab‘ | naturally, by nature |
| تهمت | tohmat | accusation, slander |
| کینه‌توزی | kinetuzi | hostility, rancor |
| بنا بر | banā bar | based on |
| تاریخ‌نگار | tārixnegār | historian, chronicler |
| مورخ | movarrex | historian |
| بی‌تردید | bitardid | undoubtedly, without a doubt |
| مانستن | mānestan | to resemble, to be like |
| هم‌پایه | hampāye | equal, peer |
| به عللی | be ‘ellali | for (various) reasons |
Vocabulary (Listening):
| Persian Word | Transcription | English Translation |
| روشنفکر | roušanfekr | intellectual |
| قیام | qiyām | uprising, revolt |
| عمیق | ‘amiq | deep |
| فرمان | farmān | order |
| انقلاب | enqelāb | revolution |
| به ثمر نشستن | be samar nešastan | to bear fruit |
| تأسیس | ta’sis | foundation, establishment |
| اداره | edāre | governing, administration, management |
| سالروز | sālruz | anniversary |
| عدالتخانه | ‘edālatxāne | House of Justice (historical) |
| مجلس شورا | majles-e šourā | parliament |
| مقابله | moqābele | confrontation |
| به راه افتادن | be rāh oftādan | to start, to be launched |
| تحصن | tahasson | sit-in protest |
| به وقوع پیوستن | be voqū‘ peyvastan | to take place, to occur |
| تفکیک قوا | tafkik-e qovā | separation of powers |
| همه‌گیر شدن | hamegir šodan | to become widespread |
| کارکرد | kārkard | way of operation |
| انتصابی | entesābi | appointed |
| انتخابی | entexābi | elective |
| از جانب | az jāneb-e | from, on behalf of |
| عزل و نصب شدن | ‘azl o nasb šodan | to be dismissed and appointed |
| مجمع تشخیص مصلحت نظام | majma‘-e tašxis-e maslahat-e nezām | Expediency Discernment Council |
| عملاً | ‘amalan | practically, in practice |
| تحقق | tahaqqoq | realization, fulfillment |
| مستقل | mostaqel | independent |
| جنبش | jonbeš | movement |
| حاکمیت | hākemiyyat | government, sovereignty |
| مملکت | mamlekat | country, state |
| عادلانه | ‘ādelāne | justly, fairly |
| حاکم مطلق | hākem-e motlaq | absolute ruler |
| ضابطه | zābete | criterion, regulation |
| مشروط کردن | mašrut kardan | to condition |
| شهروند | šahrvand | citizen |
| بدل کردن | badal kardan | to transform |
| قانونیت | qānuniyyat | legality |
| متعلق به | mota‘alleq be | belonging to |