Iran has one of the oldest town cultures in the world. It goes back more than 4, 000 years. Between the Islamic conquest in the seventh century & the westernisation in the second half of the nineteenth century, the cities & towns in today`s Islamic Republic of Iran underwent repeated changes. The Persian building culture influenced architects & artists as far as Central Asia in the north & India in the east. Unlike any other oriental country, Iran shows a unique urban & architectonic development whose defining characteristics merged with other cultures over the course of time, representing an important contribution to world architecture. In his Iran Architectural Guide, the author & architect Thomas Meyer-Wieser embarks on a journey into history, showcasing nearly 300 buildings & projects in Tehran, Isfahan, & Shiraz. His focus is on the identity of the Iranian- Islamic architecture, which has held its own since the rise of the Safavids in 1501.