Iran's Instability in the 20th Century Iran had suffered and prospered through many different rises to power in the 20th century; these changes have caused anger among the Iranian people. The period preceding the revolution was characterized by a power struggle between Western influences and the Islamic people. In 1979 the Iranian people led by Ruhollah Khomeini were considered enemies of the state. He was born around 1900 in the city of Khomein. He was raised in the tradition of Shia Islam; due to his father's death he became more spiritual and faithful. On March 31, 1961, Ayatollah Boroujerdi died and Khomeini was in a position to take over from the late religious leader. After publishing his writings on Islamic science and doctrines, many Shia Iranians began to see Khomeini as Marja-e Taqlid (Biography channel website). He wanted to start the first “government of God” (Berlatsky 26). He was thought to be a threat to the Shah who decided they had had enough of his attempts to overthrow the government; he had been in exile for 14 years. With him as the leader of the Islamic revolt people flocked to his side to support him. America's placement of He Shah in the 1960s was the straw that broke the camel's back. The Iranian Revolution of 1979 has been described as one of the most important events of the twentieth century; began a period in which Islamic culture struggled against modernization in many nations where Islam was the main religion. There is a huge difference between a failed revolution where the initiators of the revolution are reduced and their demands are not met. But if you look at it, the Iranian Revolution is seen as a successful revolution in which all the needs of struggle... middle of paper... Western nations controlled Iranian resources and the Shah, while Western culture undermined Iran and Islam from within. (January 18). Reza's downfall was his support for Germany's enemies in World War II, while Britain and the Soviet Union sent troops to Iran. They forced Reza to flee the country, and his 22-year-old son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, took control in his place. Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was incapable of ruling the country; he had no experience and was politically very weak. With this commonly known fact many different fractions wanted to be part of this new government. Some groups were communist; others simply wanted foreign companies driven out of Iran. Britain took full advantage of this situation and opened the largest oil facilities in Iran. Iranians, living in poverty, regarded this injustice with increasing bitterness and