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
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Science Magazine – Emergence of Agriculture in the Foothills of the Zagros Mountains in Iran
Oxford Handbooks – Taxation in the Achaemenid Empire
Zoroastrian Heritage Blog – Achaemenian Persian King’s Table
Health and Fitness History – Ancient Persian Nutrition
ANTHROCHEF 