History of Bread In Iran

Given the importance of bread in the Iranian diet, it is surprising that
its role in Iranian society has so far been ignored as a subject of
study. Since ancient times, bread has been the staple diet of the
peoples living in the Iranian plateau. In History of Bread in Iran,
Willem Floor, one of the foremost scholars of Iranian history,
describes the beginnings of agriculture and bread-making, and the
various grains and other products that were, and are, used to make
bread. He then delves into the making of dough in rural and urban areas,
followed by an overview of baking techniques, and the many kinds of
bread that were and continue to be made in Iran. And, because Man does
not live by bread alone, we are offered an overview of the spiritual and
social aspects of bread in Iranian society. Finally, the author
assesses the dietary importance of bread to the people of Iran and ends
by addressing the question of how the State dealt with "the bread
issue," which often determined the rise and fall of governments.